Chimi Burger

El Chimi (short for chimichurri) is a traditional Dominican street food famous for the flavorful, juicy burger and the special Dominican Sauce.I remember when I was younger after a long night of partying, we would head to the “Calle Dominicana” to get some chimis from our favorite truck.

Three main characteristics separate the Chimichurri burger from other burgers. One is the bread, we traditionally use Pan de Agua(water bread), we use shredded cabbage instead of lettuce and it never includes cheese. Once you add cheese, that’s not a chimi. Traditional patties are well-seasoned juicy ground beef and topped with grilled tomatoes, grilled onions and sautéed cabbage (slaw) and then drenched in pink sauce (salsa golf). Speaking of the sauce, Unlike most special or secret sauce, this Dominican Sauce is real easy to make. All you need is ketchup and mayonnaise— but everyone likes their sauce a certain way. I went ahead and added a few more ingredient to the sauce I made but you don’t have to make it exactly like I did. The beauty of it is that no chimi is exactly alike, so put your own spin on it (don’t add cheese though).

Chimi burgers are not usually prepared at home but Id suggest you make it at home anyways. Make a big portion of the ground beef and whatever you don’t use, freeze it for next time because trust me..there will be a next time :)

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Chimi Burger

INGREDIENTS:

For the Special Sauce:

• ketchup

• mayonnaise

• orange juice from an orange

• Worcestershire sauce

• soy sauce

• smoked paprika

For the Burger Patties:

• 80/20 Ground Beef

• onion

• garlic cloves

• green bell pepper

• culantro or cilantro

• dried Dominican Oregano

• S + P

• worcestershire sauce

• fresh thyme

• Adobo

For the chimi:

• Oil for frying

• onion cut into rings

• tomatoes cut into slices

• shredded cabbage

• Apple Cider or white vinegar

• panes de agua (or hamburgers buns)

INSTRUCTIONS:

For the Burger Patties:

1. Use the food processor to blend all the ingredients together until you get a course paste

2. Mix the seasoning paste with the ground beef, form 6 oz patties into an oval shape.

3. Chill the patties for at least an hour and up to 24 hours (this is very important so the patties don’t fall apart)

For the Special Sauce:

1. In a small bowl, mix Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, orange juice, smoked paprika. ketchup & mayonnaise until it is well combined. Set aside in the refrigerator.

For the chimi:

1. in a shallow bowl, add the cabbage,and place the onions on top. pour in some vinegar and let them sit in the vinegar until your’e ready to cook them.

2. Use a grill or a cast iron. Add some oil on medium high heat.

3. Cook patties, turning once cook to your liking. When you turn the patties, press gently for a few seconds. Set aside.

4. Reapply oil to the grill, and grill onions and tomatoes for about one minute or two each. be careful overcooking the tomatoes.

5. Lower the temperature to medium. strain the cabbage and mix it with the cabbage with half the special sauce and briefly cook the cabbage. Heating the cabbage is an optional step.

6. Toast the bread on the grill

7. To assemble the burger,Spread some of the sauce on the bottom buns. Then place the burger, tomatoes, onions, cabbage and more sauce and put the top buns.

8. Enjoy!