This venison fiesta burger is topped with avocados and jalapeños. (Mark Kenyon photo)
By Mark Kenyon
Print Recipe
Hamburgers are widely regarded as one of the most popular foods in America, and some even say it's the most American food of all. It's hard to argue with that one, as studies show that Americans on average eat about three hamburgers a week.
This rule seems to hold true for whitetail hunters as well, with venison burgers often topping the list on most household wild game menus.
Personally, I eat a lot of venison burger and, though I love the classic fixins', sometimes I like to change things up a bit.
Yes, hamburgers are pretty darn American, but it can be fun to give them an international twist on occasion – especially with Cinco de Mayo on the calendar. With that in mind, I'd like to share my recipe for one of the finest venison burgers I've ever had the fortune of sinking my teeth into: the venison fiesta burger.
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Serves: 4 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 pound venison burger 1 egg ¼ cup bread crumbs 1 tablespoon preserved bacon grease ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce Salt Pepper 4 hamburger buns or ciabatta bread rolls 1 tablespoon melted butter 1 avocado, cored and cubed Queso fresco cheese 1 can refried beans 1 sliced lime Sliced pickled jalapeños Sliced red onion Sliced tomato Iceberg lettuce Directions:
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If you have preserved bacon grease, take 1 tablespoon and melt it in the microwave back to liquid form. If you're not familiar with how to preserve bacon grease, it's worth learning about! Mix egg, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, bacon grease (once it has cooled back to room temperature), and ground venison with hands in large mixing bowl. Adding bacon grease to the ground venison helps to form the burger patties and adds an extra flavor. (Mark Kenyon photo) Form the venison mixture into four burger patties; salt and pepper each side moderately. Set aside. After forming the venison patties, season and set aside. (Mark Kenyon photo) Start heating the grill or frying pan. Remember, the key to cooking venison is hot and fast. Cook burger patties on the stove with a frying pan, or out on the grill. Whether on the grill or in a frying pan, cook these venison burgers according to your preference. (Mark Kenyon photo) While burgers are cooking, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in microwave. Butter the inside of your hamburger buns or ciabatta bread rolls, and place them face up in the oven. Set the oven to broil and let the buns crisp for a minute or two. Check often, and remove when the bread visibly starts to crisp and brown on the edges. Lightly toasted buns are the only way to serve this venison burger recipe. (Mark Kenyon photo) Heat refried beans in microwave or on the stovetop. Remove your burgers from the heat when they are done to your liking. Top venison burger with queso fresco, avocado, beans, pickled jalapeños, onion, tomato and lettuce. Serve and enjoy! About This Venison Fiesta Burger Recipe:
About five years ago, my wife and I paged through a Food Network Magazine insert on creative hamburgers ideas. One of those ideas stuck out, as it recommended adding Mexican toppings to the traditional burger. We decided to give it a try and, since then, our venison fiesta burger has evolved in many ways.
Finally, our south-of-the-border inspired burger recipe has found its perfected final form.
With each bite, you'll enjoy the rich and juicy burst of venison, the smooth and textured layers of refried beans, avocado and queso fresco cheese, while the vibrant accents of jalapeño, onion, lettuce and tomato saturate your palate.
So crack open a Corona, turn on some mariachi band music and enjoy this venison fiesta burger recipe.
Mark Kenyon runs Wired To Hunt , one of the top deer hunting resources online, featuring daily deer hunting news, stories and strategies for the whitetail addict.
