Pork Belly and Candied Bacon Burger Recipe

Chef Richard Plasencia (Twisted Fork Kitchen), aka the food at TANK Brewing Co has partnered with the National Pork Board for the 2018 SoBe Burger Bash.

He unveiled this new creation at the 2018 Burger Bash. If you didn’t try it, then here’s the Pork Belly and Candied Bacon Burger recipe so you can attempt to recreate it at home.

Aioli Ingredients

• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt plus more
• 1/4 cup rendered chorizo oil
• 1/4 cup good-quality extra-virgin olive oil
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Fresh lemon juice
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Kosher salt

Aioli Instructions

1. Place egg yolk, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and garlic clove in a blender.
2. Blend on low speed.
3. With the blender on low, slowly drizzle in the oils until completely emulsified
4. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.

Candied Bacon Ingredients

• 1 and 1/2 pounds of bacon, cooked
• 2 cups guava paste chopped
• 1 cup vidalia onion or any sweet onion, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 cup bourbon, in a cup
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup brown sugar

Candied Bacon Instructions

1. Add the onion to a saute pan, and cook over medium heat until they start to caramelize.
2. Add the chili powder and smoked paprika and stir to combine.
3. Increase heat to medium-high and add the bourbon and maple syrup.
4. Bring to a boil, stir, and scrape the pan so all the little bacon bits come loose.
5. Continue boiling for about 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Reduce to a simmer.
7. Add vinegar and brown sugar, and continue to simmer for about 3 minutes.
8. Toss the bacon into the pan, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 10 minutes; the mixture will thicken and look jam-like in the process.

Burger Ingredients

• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil for grilling
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon thyme leaves
• 2 scallion, thinly sliced
• 1 ½ pounds ground pork
• ¼ pound ground pork belly
• 3 ounces cherrywood-smoked bacon, finely diced
• 6 slices Manchego cheese
• 4 black brioche buns
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper

Burger Instructions

1. In a large bowl, use your hands to combine the ground pork, pork belly, bacon, garlic, thyme, and scallion, being careful not to overmix the meat.
2. Season with 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper.
3. Portion meat into six 6-ounce patties.
4. Chill in the refrigerator.
5. Light the grill 30 minutes before cooking and remove pork burgers from the refrigerator to come to room temperature.
6. Brush the pork burgers with olive oil and grill them for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until they’re browned.
7. Brush the brioche with olive oil and toast them on the grill.
8. Spread aioli on both sides of the bun.
9. Place a burger on the bottom half of each bun and top with bacon jam.

Source: Chef Richard Plasencia for the National Pork Board, 2018 SOBEWFF