SAMURAI BURGER with WASABI, SESAME, CUCUMBER, and KIMCHI MAYO

MAKES 4 BURGERS

The Beyond Burger from Beyond Meat is a very special plant-based burger. It’s thick and satisfying with a super-meaty, umami flavor. Mind-blowing! Here, I take the burger in an Asian direction with kimchi mayo and a crust of sesame seeds, fried garlic, and crushed wasabi peas. But you could go BBQ and blend the kimchi with Smoky BBQ Sauce (here) instead of mayo. Or try any of the barbecue sauces here. —DEREK

1/3 cup wasabi peas

¼ cup fried garlic (see Pro Tip)

½ cup mixed black and white sesame seeds

2 tablespoons plant-based butter

4 soft, squishy hamburger buns

4 Beyond Meat Beyond Burgers (1 pound total)

2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

½ cup Kimchi Mayo (here), for garnish

Thinly sliced red onion, crisped up in ice water, for garnish

¼ English cucumber, sliced thin on a diagonal, tossed with 2 tablespoons kimchi liquid, for garnish

Thinly sliced red chiles, for garnish

Crush the wasabi peas under a medium cast-iron skillet, then mix them with the fried garlic and sesame seeds in a wide bowl. This is the crust for your burgers.

Melt the butter in the skillet over medium heat. Brown the cut sides of the buns in the hot butter, then remove to a work surface.

Crank the heat under the skillet to medium high. When wicked hot, add the burgers and cook until seared and browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, whisk together the tamari and sesame oil in a wide bowl until blended. Dip the cooked burgers in the tamari mixture, then coat in the sesame seed crust.

Pile the burgers onto the buns with the kimchi mayo, red onion, cukes, and chiles.