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‘Build a Better Burger’ recipe winner revealed!

Impress your family by making these delicious sweet-and-hot Thai burgers

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Cook the winning Better Burger
Oct. 1: Its creator, Karen Bernards, shows TODAY’s Al Roker how to make this top-notch meal of sweet and hot Thai burgers.

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TODAY
updated 11:20 a.m. ET Oct. 1, 2007

If you’re ready to impress your family with a delicious and mouthwatering recipe, then try this unique sweet-hot Thai burger recipe from the “Build a Better Burger” contest winner, Karen Bernards of McMinnville, Ore. Bernards included crushed chips in the patties to give the burgers a blend of flavors and then added lime juice, cilantro and sweet Thai chili sauce, garlic, basil, fresh ginger, English cucumbers, sprouts and red bell peppers into an accompanying Thai salad.

Sweet-Hot Thai Burgers
Karen Bernards

Makes 6 burgers

My love of Thai food and my love of a good burger helped me to create this recipe. This is a great burger to serve at your next party. It has a great fresh taste.

INGREDIENTS

Cilantro mayonnaise

1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Thai salad

1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon Colavita Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons bottled Thai sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon peeled and grated fresh ginger
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 English cucumber, cut into matchsticks
1 red bell pepper, cut into matchsticks
1 1/2 cups fresh bean sprouts

Patties

2 pounds freshly ground chuck
2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 cup bottled Thai sweet chili sauce
4 green onions, sliced
1 cup Spicy Thai Kettle Chips, placed in a bag and smashed slightly
2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil, for brushing on the grill rack
6 good-quality potato hamburger buns, split

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.

To make the mayonnaise, whisk the mayonnaise, lime juice and cilantro in a small bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.

To make the salad, whisk the lime juice, garlic, olive oil, salt, sweet chili sauce, ginger, cilantro and basil in a small bowl. Combine the cucumber, red pepper, and bean sprouts in a large bowl. Toss with the dressing to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.

To make the patties, combine the chuck, salt, sweet chili sauce, green onions and chip pieces in a large bowl, handling as little as possible. Shape into 6 patties to fit the buns. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and set aside.

When the grill is ready, brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once until done to preference, 5 to 7 minutes on each side for medium. Place the buns, cut side down, on the outer edges of the grill rack to toast lightly during the last 2 minutes of grilling.

To assemble the burgers, spread a generous amount of the cilantro mayonnaise over the cut sides of the buns. On each bun bottom, place a grilled patty, followed by equal portions of the Thai salad, add the top bun and serve.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


For more information and recipes from the “Build a Better Burger” contest, visit Buildabetterburger.com

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