Paniolo Burger recipe from Pono Burger in Santa Monica

Monday, May 26, 2014

The Paniolo Burger - Recipe makes 4 burgers

Burgers:

1 pound organic, grass-fed, 80% lean beef, divided into four patties

Salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Extra virgin olive oil

Bun and Toppings:

4 brioche buns, toasted

4 slices smoked cheddar

Kona Coffee Bourbon BBQ Sauce (see recipe below)

8 slices Niman Ranch bacon, cooked until crispy

Beer Battered Maui Onion Rings (see recipe below)

Instructions:

Season burger patties with salt and pepper, to taste. Brush grill grate with olive oil and heat it to medium or medium-high.
Place burgers on grill, cover, and cook for 4 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 4 minutes, or to desired doneness.
To build the burgers, place a patty on each bun bottom. Top the burgers with cheese, BBQ sauce, bacon, onion rings, and a bun on top.

Beer Battered Maui Onion Rings

4 cups rice bran oil

2 Maui onions, sweeter the better, Vidalia or Texas sweets

12 ounces beer, Strand 24th St. Pale Ale

2 cups buttermilk

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

2 teaspoons salt, plus more for seasoning

Instructions:

Cut onions into 1/2-inch thick slices. Separate into rings, removing and discarding the dark exterior rings. Soak onion rings in beer for 1 hour.
In a fryer, heat oil to 400 degrees F.
Remove rings from beer. In a mixing bowl, combine beer, buttermilk, flour, garlic, cayenne, and salt, mixing thoroughly. Dip onion rings in batter.
Drop battered onion rings in hot oil, working in batches, being sure not to overcrowd rings as they will stick together. When golden, remove and let drain on paper towels. Season with salt and serve as a topping on The Paniolo Burger.

Kona Coffee Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Total Time: 45 min

Prep: 15 min

Yield: approx. 1 quart

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onions

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

2 (14-ounce) bottles tomato ketchup

3/4 cup bourbon

1/2 cup Kona coffee

1 tablespoon molasses

1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Heat pot to medium-high and add olive oil, onions, and garlic. Saut for 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often to prevent burning.
Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before adding BBQ sauce to a food processor or blender. Process until smooth, about 15 seconds. Scrape down sides of container with a rubber spatula and pulse 2 or 3 times more. Refrigerate until ready to use on The Paniolo Burger.

Pono Burger is located at 829 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401