Hawaiian Burgers

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend grill outs and barbecues,  I have to share with you these unique, juicy burgers I made after drooling over them on Strawberry Cake. These burgers reminded me of the best burger I've had. While visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Oahu they took us to an amazing burger joint Kua 'Ania. The burgers at Kua Ania can be ordered with sliced pineapples, fresh avocados, grilled onions, and of course melted cheese.  Here is a Pineapple Burger from Kua 'Aina:

So now that you see how incredible these burgers look,  you can imagine how eager I was to make Sheila's Hawaiian Burgers and try to relive the burger memories from Kua 'Aina! The best part of creating these burgers was having my hubby cut up a whole pineapple. It was a learning experience for both of us, and while our pineapple slices weren't the prettiest slices you'll ever see, they turned out really well for our first time!

These burgers were very, very good and took me right back to Oahu!  The patties are made with diced onion and teriyaki, making them moist and flavorful. My favorite part was of course the grilled pineapples and onions. We also made a wasabi mayonnaise, a simplified version of a wasabi mayo Sheila recommends with her burgers. It was a fantastic addition and I definitely recommend you try it to add a little zing to your next burger.

Hawaiian Burgers
Modified from Strawberry Cake
Printable Version
Ingredients
1 pound ground turkey
6 ounces pineapple rings (reserve the juice if possible)
1 1/2 tablespoon Teriyaki Marinade
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1/4 cup finely chopped onions
salt and pepper to taste
Toasted buns, if desired
Provolone cheese, if desired
Grilled onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and wasabi mayonnaise (recipe below)


Directions
In a mixing bowl combine ground turkey, teriyaki sauce, garlic salt, onions, and 1/4 cup of reserved pineapple juice. 

Use your fingers to combine throughly. Form into patties (I was able to make 5). Gently press pineapple rings into the tops of the burgers. Season with salt and pepper.

Place burgers pineapple side down on the grill. Cook 4-5 minutes on each side for medium doneness. 

Grill onion slices and extra pineapple if desired.

For the Wasabi Mayo:
Mix 3 tablespoons wasabi paste with 3 tablespoons mayo. 

Add provolone cheese to burgers and serve with wasabi mayo, tomato slices, lettuce, and any other condiments of your choice.

Pineapple Cream Cheese Cheeseball

If you are looking for a delicious appetizer to feed lots of people, you have to try my Aunt Chris' Pineapple Cream Cheese Cheeseball. This cheeseball makes a frequent appearance at our family get togethers because it is so tasty. I made it for the first time for a potluck at work and it was a big hit! Several of my co-workers commented how impressed they were that I made a cheeseball. I had to fess up that this cheeseball is virtually effortless - you just mix all the ingredients together, shape it into a ball, roll it in walnuts and viola! You have yourself a cheeseball. I love how this cheeseball incorporates the sweetness of pineapple, the strength of green onions, the silkiness of the cream cheese, and the crunch of the walnuts. Basically, this is one primo cheeseball!

Aunt Chris' Pineapple Cream Cheese Cheesball

Special thanks to my wonderful Auntie Chris

Ingredients

2 8 ounce packages of cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1/4 cup chopped green onion - I used a little more since I love green onions

1 green pepper, finely chopped

1 - 2 garlic cloves, diced (go for 2!)

3/4 large can of crushed pineapple, drain well

1 cup of walnut pieces

Directions

With your hands, mix all ingredients, except the walnuts. Form into a ball. Roll into walnut pieces and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.