Thai Inspired Sliders

Before this month I had never tried Thai food. 

Is that weird? I feel like that might be weird. I mean.... I'm all about food so why wouldn't I have tried all the food from everywhere? Okay. So I haven't tried ALL the food yet but I'm slowly getting there. I'm a trooper like that. No need to thank me. 

Although you might want to thank me after trying this burger. I love that is has subtle hints of Thai flavors and is so different than the usual summer burgers. 

It was inspired by the flavors in our Thai Dinner we had earlier this month. (Click HERE to see those recipes!) I fell in love with the Peanut Sauce (Recipe HERE) I made to go with our chicken satay. I wanted to come up with another recipe that I could use the sauce with. It totally elevates these sliders from "average" to "whaaaaaaaaaaaaat the heck is this I want to marry it". 

Not even lying. 

Thai Inspired Sliders

Ingredients

Peanut Sauce

1/2 cup chicken broth

2 1/2 Tbsp peanut butter

1/2 Tbsp honey

1/2 Tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp fish sauce

1 tsp sriracha

1/2 tsp ginger paste (or minced)

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 Tbsp lime juice

Pickled Vegetables

1 red pepper, julienned

1/2 cucumber, julienned

1 carrot, julienned

1 Tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

3 Tbsp cider vinegar

1 Tbsp water

1/4 tsp ginger paste (or minced)

1/2 tsp ground turmeric

Slider Patties

1 lb lean ground pork

1 lb lean ground beef

1 Tbsp fish sauce

1 Tbsp chili paste

1 Tbsp soy sauce

3 tbsp bread crumbs

1/4 cup red onion, finely diced

1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped

1/2 tsp ginger paste (or minced)

salt & pepper

Also Need

16 mini dinner roll buns

lime wedges

cilantro

Directions

Prepare Peanut Sauce - Mix all ingredients EXCEPT lime juice in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 6 minutes, stirring constantly. 

Remove from heat and stir in lime juice. Let cool completely. (Can be made ahead of time and kept in fridge, covered, for several days.)

Prepare Pickled Vegetables - julienne your veggies.

In a bowl, whisk together sugar, salt, cider vinegar, water, ginger, and turmeric. Add vegetables and toss gently. 

Refrigerate at least 4 hours, stirring every so often to evenly marinate. Can be made a day ahead. 

Prepare Slider Patties - In a mixing bowl, combine the slider ingredients.

I like to start mixing with a wooden spoon and then use my hands to really make sure everything is combined. Form into 16 patties - I use a round cookie cutter to help shape my patties. I place the cookie cutter on a work surface and then press 1/16th of the meat into it with my fingers.

You can weigh them on a kitchen scale to make sure they are all equal but I never do - I just go by look and feel to make sure they are close to being the same.  

You can cover and chill the patties for up to a day ahead of time.... or go ahead and cook now. 

NOTE - I usually make all 3 recipes first thing in the morning so when dinner time is near all I have to do is cook the burgers. No muss, no fuss. It's great if you are having guests. 

I cook my slider patties in a frying pan until the meat is cooked all the way through. You could also bake them in the oven or on the BBQ. 

Serving the Thai Inspired Sliders - spread a generous amount of the peanut sauce on the top and bottom bun. Top with a cooked slider patty and then a generous amount of the pickled veggies. 

If desired you can sprinkle with drizzle of lime juice and extra cilantro. 

I don't want to sound like a weirdo... wait, that's not necessarily true... being weird is awesome.... but this is a flavor and texture adventure. Combining pork and beef gives these a little somethin' somethin' more than just using beef. Then throwing the crunchy, tangy vegetables on top and the spicy kick of the peanut sauce has your tastes buds wondering just what the heck is happening. 

If you have someone in your house that is a picky eater - mom I'm looking in your direction - then you can leave off the peanut sauce and pickled veggies and just put BBQ sauce or mustard and ketchup (the normal stuff) on top of your bun. *Sigh* It makes me sad, but it can be done.

I cooked half of these for dinner one night and then froze the leftover sliders - uncooked - for a later date. In an airtight container or bag they will last a couple of months in the freezer. Then simply thaw overnight in the fridge and cook. You can make more veggies and peanut sauce when you are ready to cook the burgers. 

If you are looking for something different to try, give these a go. You won't regret it!