These Hawaiian burgers are made from smoky ground beef topped with a pineapple and pepper relish, so you know they don’t run short on flavor. These patties are juicy, tender and spicy … basically everything you want in a perfect burger and more!!
YIELD: 2 SERVINGS • COOK TIME: 8 MINUTES
PINEAPPLE RELISH
1 (20-oz [567-g]) can pineapple rings, grilled, then chopped
2 tbsp (30 ml) canola oil
½ cup (75 g) minced red onion
¼ cup (20 g) minced green bell pepper
1 jalapeño pepper, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1 tbsp (16 g) whole grain mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
BURGERS
1 lb (454 g) ground beef
Slab’s Beef Rub
4 slices provolone cheese
King’s Hawaiian hamburger buns
Crispy bacon, chopped
Prepare your grill or smoker for two-zone cooking. You will want to grill the burgers over a hot fire at 500 to 600°F (260 to 316°C), and you will need a cooler zone around 400°F (204°C) for toasting the buns.
To make the relish, grill the pineapple rings over direct heat for about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove the pineapple from the grill, chop and set aside. In a cast-iron skillet over direct heat, add the oil and sauté the onion, green pepper, jalapeño and garlic until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the grilled pineapple, cider vinegar, lime zest and juice and whole grain mustard. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside to cool.
To make the burgers, mix the hamburger with the beef rub and half of the cooled pineapple relish. Mold four ¼-pound (115-g) patties.
Place the burgers over the hottest part of the grill, and then leave them alone for at least 2 minutes. For crosshatched grill marks, rotate each burger 90 degrees and continue cooking on that same side for 2 minutes more. Flip the burgers and continue cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes, rotating 90 degrees on the grate after 2 minutes. Top with provolone cheese until melted. Remove the burgers from the grill; then toast the buns on the cooler part of the grill for 1 to 2 minutes.
Place the burgers onto the bottom buns, and top with a spoonful of pineapple relish and some of the chopped crispy bacon. Place the top bun onto the burger and get ready to enjoy!