Chef John's Chicken Satay Burger

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Servings: 4
Yield: 4 servings

Description

Chef John's chicken satay burger recipe yields juicy burgers seasoned with Asian-inspired spices, topped with peanut sauce and crunchy slaw on a soft bun.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 teaspoon Asian chile pepper sauce (such as sambal oelek), or to taste
1 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 cup carrots cut into thin matchsticks
1/2 cup cucumber cut into thin matchsticks
2 tablespoons jalapeno peppers cut into thin matchsticks
1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
2 teaspoons fish sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 1/2 tablespoons coconut milk
1 tablespoon dry bread crumbs
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 pound ground chicken
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
salt
4 hamburger buns
1/4 cup cilantro leaves

Directions

1 Combine peanut butter, 1 teaspoon chili sauce, and lime juice in a small bowl; stir until thoroughly blended.
2 Combine carrot, cucumber, and jalapeño in a bowl; stir in vinegar and fish sauce. Set aside.
3 Combine garlic, basil, coconut milk, bread crumbs, soy sauce, remaining 1 teaspoon chili sauce, cumin, and turmeric in a bowl; mix in ground chicken until thoroughly blended (mixture will be very soft).
4 Fry a small piece of chicken mixture in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until chicken is browned and no longer pink. Taste chicken piece; season chicken mixture with cayenne pepper and salt as needed. Do not eat raw chicken mixture.
5 Spoon 1/4 chicken mixture into the same skillet, forming a patty shape; cook until bottom browned, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook until browned and no longer pink inside, about 5 minutes more. Repeat with remaining chicken mixture to make 3 more patties.
6 Spread about 1 teaspoon peanut butter spread onto each bun half. Top each bottom bun with 1 chicken patty, 1/4 carrot slaw, and 1 tablespoon cilantro leaves. Place top buns on burgers; serve.