Chipotle Pork Cheeseburgers

Unless you’re shopping for “meatloaf mix,” it’s easy to overlook ground pork. Smoky pork burgers topped with melted Muenster and creamy avocado will broaden your horizons. Don’t skip the sliced tomatillo—its crisp tartness really perks things up.

Yield:

Serves 4

Ingredients

1. 1 lb ground pork (not lean)
2. 2 teaspoons minced chipotle in adobo plus 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
3. 2 garlic cloves, forced through a garlic press
4. 4 slices Muenster cheese
5. 4 hamburger buns, toasted
6. 1/4 cup mayonnaise
7. 1 large tomatillo (1/4 lb), husked and rinsed, then sliced
8. 1/2 small avocado, sliced
9. 1/2 cup cilantro sprigs

Directions

1. Prepare a gas grill for direct-heat cooking over medium heat; see “Grilling Procedure.”
2. Gently mix pork, chipotle, garlic, and a scant tsp salt until just combined. Form into 4 (1/2-inch-thick) patties.
3. Oil grill rack, then grill patties, covered, 4 minutes.
4. Flip patties and top with a slice of cheese. Grill, covered, until just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more.
5. Spread buns with mayonnaise and assemble burgers with tomatillo, avocado, and cilantro.

Notes

Burgers can be grilled in an oiled hot 2-burner grill pan over medium heat, about 10 minutes total.