Crispy Pork Burgers with Guacamole and Pickled Red Onions

PICKLED RED ONIONS: Place the sliced onions in a medium-sized jar. Bring the vinegar, water, sugar and salt to a simmer in a small saucepan and cook until the sugar and salt have dissolved. Remove from the heat and pour over the onions. Add the peppercorns, if using, and set aside to cool.

CRUMBED PORK: Set yourself up with three bowls and an oven tray lined with baking paper. Put the combined spices, salt and flour in one bowl, whisk the eggs and hot sauce together in the next and put the panko crumbs in the third.

Dredge the pork in the flour mixture, then shake off any excess. Next, dip it into the egg mixture and again allow any excess to drip off. Finally, coat in the panko crumbs, then place on the lined oven tray.

Heat 2cm of vegetable oil to 180°C in a large frying pan. Fry the pork in batches for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on kitchen towels.

GUACAMOLE: Mash the avocado flesh in a bowl with the back of a fork. Add the remaining ingredients, season to taste and mix together.

TO ASSEMBLE: Toss together the shredded cabbage, coriander leaves and lime juice. Grill the burger buns to your liking, then smear with mayonnaise. Top with the cabbage salad, crumbed pork, guacamole, pickled red onions and chipotle or hot sauce.

DRINKS MATCH:
Pork and spicy guac just sing with the Pīwakawaka Vineyard Gisborne Viognier 2020 ($27) in the mix. Jasmine, lemon, apricot stone and tangerine slice through this wine and leave a cleansing impression on the finish. For stockists email [email protected]