Cheeseburgers and spicy BBQ ribs are quintessential to any backyard grilling event. The only problem I have is that once I have a burger, I barely have room for anything else. The best way to fix that is to make these amazing Vietnamese style mini pork burgers! They’re the perfect size for cookouts especially when there’s so much more food to try.
Burgers are usually the first thing I grab at any cookout, then it’s just a waiting game until I’m hungry enough for those ribs! So why not just fore-go all that bread and meat and make a snack size version of a favorite? Sometimes all you need are a couple of satisfying bites to hold you over and these little Vietnamese style mini pork burgers will do just that! They’re tasty, moist and satisfying!
I grilled these using my trusty George Foreman grill, not exactly my idea of grilling but the weather has been a bit dreary here in the past week.
These Vietnamese style mini pork burgers were inspired by one of my favorite Vietnamese sandwiches, the Banh Mi. Banh mi just means baguette in Vietnam or Saigon, where the Banh Mi hails from. They come stuffed with seasoned meat, pickled carrots and a spicy sauce. Check out the sandwich version I made some time ago!
These spicy mini pork burgers are spiced with Asian flavors and jalapenos and served on a mini roll. So easy to make and a nice unexpected twist to your standard cheeseburger! Surely your guests will be surprised!
Vietnamese Style Mini Pork Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground pork
- 2 tbsp fine breadcrumbs
- 2 stalks scallions chopped
- 1 jalapeno chopped
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup pickled veggies
- Sliced provolone cheese cut to size
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/8 cup Asian hot sauce I used Kim's Korean Hot Sauce
- Cilantro for topping
- Mini rolls
Instructions
- Add the pork to a bowl and mix in the next 7 ingredients and stir well until all are evenly distributed. Refrigerate for about an hour
- Turn on the grill and while that's heating up divide meat into 4 parts and start shaping the patties into balls a little bigger than a golf ball. This makes about 20 meatballs.
- Flatten each ball with the palm of your hand and grill on each side for 5 minutes. Since I used the Foreman grill, the meat cooks on both sides at once so only cooked for about 6 minutes.
- When burger is done melt cheese on top and grill the mini rolls.
- Transfer the burgers onto your rolls, top with pickled veggies and cilantro.
- Make the spicy mayo by mixing the mayo and hot sauce in a separate bowl. Spread the spicy mayo on top side of bread and enjoy.
Here’s a quick recipe for the pickled veggies. Also, if you don’t want to use all the meat for burgers, save some of the seasoned meat for dumplings!
