Alligator Katsu Burgers

Sarah MickeyAll Recipes, Alligator Recipes, Burger Recipes

Alligator Katsu Burgers with Shokupan, Tonkatsu Mayo, Pickled Cabbage & Caramelized Onion

Makes 4 Servings
wine BEER PAIRING
Pilsner

Alligator burgers are ground from the leg & body meat, so they have a pretty potent mackerel-esque flavor. We’ve balanced it here with a spicy-tangy katsu-sauce and pickled cabbage. A crispy coating of fried panko breadcrumbs adds satisfying crunch, evoking Japanese fried fish dishes.

INGREDIENTS
  • Pickled Cabbage:
  • 4 cups Shredded Purple Cabbage
  • 1 tbsp Kosher Salt
  • Seasoned Rice Wine Vinegar
  • Alligator Katsu Patties:
  • 4 Alligator Burgers
  • All Purpose Flour
  • 3 Eggs, beaten
  • Panko Bread Crumbs
  • Salt
  • 3 cups Canola Oil
  • Katsu Mayo:
  • ½ cup Mayonnaise (we used Best Foods)
  • ½ cup Tonkatsu Sauce (we used Bulldog brand)
  • 1 ½ tsp Shitchimi Togarashi (store bought or make your own)
  • ¼ cup finely shredded Green Cabbage
  • Caramelized Onions
  • 8 Slices Japanese-Style Sandwich Bread (shokupan) (could substitute burger buns or white bread)

DIRECTIONS

1

Massage the salt into the shredded purple cabbage. Put it in a colander over a bowl, with a weighted plate pushing down on the cabbage within the colander. Let it sit for 30 minutes to draw out the cabbage’s moisture.
2

Rinse the cabbage & put it in a bowl. Pour rice wine vinegar over the cabbage to cover, and let sit until you’re ready to serve the burgers.
3

Dry all surface moisture off of the burger patties.
4

Put the flour (seasoned with some salt), eggs, and panko in separate bowls.
5

Dip each burger in the flour, then the egg, then the panko.
6

Heat the canola oil in a pot to 350°F.
7

Gently lower in the burger patties (we used a spider, but a slotted spoon or metal spatula would work too) & fry them until the panko is golden brown & the patties reach an internal temperature of 155°F.
8

Remove the patties from the oil to a plate covered with paper towels to drain off the oil.
9

Mix together the katsu mayonnaise ingredients. Remove the cabbage from the vinegar.
10

Toast one side of each of the shocopan slices on the grill, in a toaster oven, or in a buttered pan, so they’ll be moisture resistant on the inside, but soft on the outside.
11

Serve the katsu burgers on the bread with katsu mayo, cabbage, caramelized onions & the pickled cabbage.
Browse More:
Alligator Recipes
Burger Recipes