Recipe: Island Burgers with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Whether you're planning a beach themed picnic as we mentioned Monday, or just wanting to spice up your grilling choices this Memorial Day, these tasty burgers will hit the spot and bring a sweet and spicy taste of the islands to your plate wherever you may be spending your holiday!

Island Burgers with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Ingredients:

2 lbs. ground beef
salt and black pepper
dash garlic salt
1 pineapple, peeled and sliced lengthwise
1 sweet red bell pepper, diced
1/8 cup pickled ginger, diced
1/8 cup soy sauce
1/8 cup rice wine vinegar
pinch salt and black pepper
hamburger buns

Directions:

• Heat grill to medium.  Brush lengths of pineapple with cooking oil and place on grill.  Cook, turning a few times, until pineapple is hot and has good grill marks.  Remove to cutting board and allow to cool.
• Cut pineapple into small pieces and put in bowl; add sweet red bell pepper, pickled ginger, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and salt and pepper; toss to combine, taste and adjust seasonings.  Refrigerate until burgers are ready.
• Turn grill up to high for burgers.  Form the beef into1/2 thick patties, season with salt, pepper, and dash of garlic powder.
• When grill is ready, cook burgers 3 to 4 minutes, flip, then continue grilling for 3 to 4 minutes or until done as desired.
• Serve hot burgers on hamburger buns (toasted on the grill if desired) with a large spoonful of chilled pineapple salsa.

Related Resource:

Picnics: Delicious Recipes for Outdoor Entertaining
By Sara Deseran and Jonelle Weaver

Here's a delightful 96-page hardcover with truly original recipes for exciting picnic fare that includes salads, main-dishes, sandwiches, and desserts. Over 45 recipes are shared here, including exotic recipes for Focaccia bread, salmon and shrimp, zucchini, and Chocolate-Walnut Cake. Weaver contributes twenty-four color photographs to inspire your taste buds to explore the book's possiiblities.