As much as we love a simple, no-frills burger, with nothing but a slab of cheese and a slice of tomato, there’s so much more you can do with this summer favorite. A few additional ingredients can turn your typical burger into a culinary masterpiece! 

Just in time for burger season, our culinary team has created four original burger recipes that are anything but traditional. Each week “Elevate Your Burger” we’ll be bringing you another one to add to your summer barbecue repertoire.

This week’s burger recipe, Aiden’s Banh Mi Burger, is brought to you by a much-loved member of our culinary team, Aiden Smart.

 Ingredients

• 8 oz  burger patties
• 2 oz  Grafton smoked cheddar
• 1 brioche bun
• 2 Tbsp pesto mayo (recipe below)
• ¼ cup pickled vegetables  (recipe below)
• Fresh cilantro
• Salt and pepper, as always!

 Pesto Mayo

• 1 Cup Mayo
• 2 Tbsp of you favored Fresh Pesto
•  Salt and Pepper to Taste

Pickled Vegetables

• Julienned carrots
• Julienned red peppers
• Julienned English cucumbers
• 4 cups water
• 4 cups white vinegar
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp fennel seed
• 1 tsp coriander seed
• 1 tsp peppercornes
• 1 tsp star anise

 Steps for the pickled vegetables

1. Lightly toast the spices in a dry pan and set aside.
2. Bring to a boil: water, vinegar, sugar, and salt.
3. Add the spices to the hot liquid and pour the pickling liquid over the julienned vegetables in a bowl.
4. Set aside and cool in the refrigerator overnight.

Steps for the burger

This recipe can be done on a grill; this is the preferred method. 

1. Liberally salt and pepper the burger patties, before grilling to temp.
2. Melt smoked cheddar cheese over burgers.
3. Toast buns on the grill to lightly brown.
4. Place buns on a plate and apply pesto mayo to both sides of the buns.
5. Place burger on bottom bun.
6. Top with some pickled vegetables and some fresh cilantro.

Enjoy!