Add a bitter and aromatic kick to your duck burgers by folding in some horseradish when forming the patties. (Photo courtesy of "The Sporting Chef")
By Scott Leysath
Print Recipe
When it comes to making burgers, most people don't consider waterfowl meat as an alternative to beef, but ground duck or goose breasts are great on the grill.
Before grinding, it's best to remove excess blood by soaking the breast fillets for several hours in a simple saltwater brine (½ gallon water, plus ½ cup coarse salt). Leave the skin on milder-tasting puddlers, but remove it from the darker-fleshed ducks.
Serves: 4 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
2 cups ground duck breast fillets, skin on or off 1 cup ground pork ½ cup minced onion ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper Dash Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons ketchup ½ cup seasoned breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish Sliced bacon Sliced cheese, your choice Buns Lettuce, onion and tomato (optional)
Directions:
In a bowl, mix together ground duck, pork, onion, salt, pepper, Worcestershire, ketchup, horseradish and breadcrumbs. Shape duck meat mixture into 4 to 6 patties. Grill each side of patty until just done, but not overcooked (135 degrees internal temperature for medium-rare). Melt cheese over top of patty. Cook bacon. Serve duck patty on bun with bacon and top with your choice of condiments.
