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Cuban-Style Pork Burgers
Serves 6 Prep 15 min Total 15 min Type Meal Origin Cuban

Cuban-Style Pork Burgers

A beloved Cuban street food that combines seasoned ground pork with Spanish chorizo, served with crispy shoestring potatoes and dressed with tangy thousand island dressing, all sandwiched in a toasted bun.

Serves 6 Prep 15 minutes Units Rate

Overview

These Cuban-style burgers are a vibrant fusion of Spanish and Cuban influences, featuring tender pork patties infused with spicy chorizo, aromatic garlic, and fresh peppers. The patties are griddled to perfection and served with a distinctive potato filling and creamy dressing that makes them distinctly Cuban. The combination of flavors, savory, spicy, and tangy, makes this a signature Cuban comfort food.

Ingredients

Burger Patties

  • 27 grams Spanish chorizo
  • 454 grams pork mince
  • 36 grams dried bread crumbs
  • 1 egg (large, beaten)
  • 1 yellow onion (small, minced)
  • 50 grams green bell pepper (minced)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • ¼ tsp. kosher salt

Assembly

  • 6 hamburger buns (split)
  • 6 Tbsp. thousand island dressing
  • 300 grams potatoes (shoestring, potato sticks)
  • 6 lettuce leaves (green)

Method

Stage 1 - Prepare Patties

  1. Finely chop chorizo in a food processor or with a large knife.
  2. Gently mix together ground pork, chopped chorizo, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, green pepper, garlic and salt until just combined.
  3. Shape into 6 patties about ¾-inch thick.
  4. Refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes to firm up.

Stage 2 - Cook Burgers

  1. Place a griddle pan over a medium-high heat until it becomes hot.
  2. Place burgers in the pan and cover.
  3. Grill burgers for 5 minutes.
  4. Turn and finish cooking for 4 to 5 minutes more, until cooked through.

Stage 3 - Toast & Assemble

  1. Toast buns about 1 minute per side until lightly golden.
  2. Build burgers on buns with 1 ½ tablespoons dressing, ⅓ cup shoestring potatoes and one lettuce leaf.

Notes

  • Chorizo Preparation: Spanish chorizo adds authentic Cuban flavor; ensure it's finely chopped and well incorporated for consistent spicing throughout the patty.
  • Temperature Control: Medium-high heat is crucial, too high will burn the outside while leaving the inside undercooked; too low will result in dry patties.
  • Refrigeration: Chilling the patties helps them hold together during cooking and improves texture.
  • Potato Component: The shoestring potatoes are essential to the Cuban burger experience; they add textural contrast and are a defining characteristic of this dish.

Variations

With Swiss Cheese: Add a slice of Swiss cheese to each patty after flipping; cover and cook 1-2 minutes more until melted. Citrus Marinade: Marinate minced garlic and onion in lime and orange juice for 30 minutes before adding to the meat mixture for enhanced Cuban flavor.

Serving

Serve with: Crispy shoestring potatoes, pickled onions, or a simple side salad Garnish with: Fresh cilantro, additional jalapeños for heat, or fresh lime wedges

Storage

  • Keeps 3-4 days refrigerated (store patties and assembly components separately)
  • Freezes well up to 2 months (freeze uncooked patties with parchment between each)
  • Best eaten immediately after assembly for optimal texture of potatoes and bun

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