Lean And Mean Ostrich Burgers With Grilled Bread And Butter Pickles Food

BREAD 'N' BUTTER PICKLES

Steps:

• Wash the Kirby cucumbers under cold water and then slice into 1/3-inch rounds, about as thick as an Oreo. Peel the onion, cut in half lengthwise, and slice into semicircles the same width as the cukes. Toss the onions and the cucumbers in a bowl with the salt and let sit for 1 hour. Rinse well in a colander, drain, and place in a nonreactive bowl. Tear up the celery leaves and add to the mix, then set aside.
• In a saucepan, combine the pepper flakes, fenugreek, tumeric, mustard seeds, the allspice berries, vinegar, 1/2 cup water, the sugar, and maple syrup. Bring to a rapid boil and then pour over the cucumbers. Leave them uncovered for 2 hours and then refrigerate. When they reach fridge temperature, cover with plastic wrap. Done. But they'll be at their best a day or two later. They'll keep in the refrigerator for about 10 days.

HOMEMADE BREAD AND BUTTER PICKLES

Steps:

• Wash cucumbers, slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds, and place in a heated, sterilized mason jar with horseradish and fresh dill weed.
• Set a large pot over medium heat and add vinegar, sugar, water, garlic and pickling spices. Bring the brine to a boil then pour over cucumbers and horseradish in still-hot mason jar and seal lid. Allow to cool to room temperature before refrigerating. You can serve once chilled, but for best flavor serve after the pickles have been left overnight.

LEAN AND MEAN OSTRICH BURGERS WITH GRILLED BREAD AND BUTTER PICKLES

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal grill by lighting charcoal and letting it burn until it glows bright orange, ashes over, and is very hot. Brush the grill grate generously with oil.
• Meanwhile, put the ostrich meat in a mixing bowl, sprinkle generously with salt and pepper, and form into 4 equal-size patties about 3/4-inch thick. Grill the burgers, turning once, until medium-rare, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Spread 1 tablespoon of the yogurt on each of 4 muffin halves, and 1 tablespoon mustard on each of the remaining muffin halves. Place the burgers on the mustard-coated muffins; top each with a slice of tomato, lettuce, and a generous pile of pickles. Top with the yogurt-coated muffins and serve immediately.
• Prepare a hot fire in a charcoal grill or preheat a gas grill to high.
• Put the cucumbers, cut-side down, on the hot grill and cook, without turning, until grill marks appear and the cucumbers have softened slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the honey, vinegar, 1/3 cup water, the pickling spices, turmeric, chili flakes and garlic in a small bowl, glass jar or pie plate. Transfer the hot cucumbers to the pickling liquid, being sure they are completely submerged. Let stand for at least 15 minutes before draining and slicing crosswise. Pickles can be served immediately, or sliced and stored in the pickling liquid in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

YOUR CLASSIC BREAD-AND-BUTTER PICKLES

Steps:

• Trim and discard the blossom ends of the cucumbers, then peel the onions and cut both into rounds about 1/4 inch thick. In a nonreactive bowl, toss them with the salt, then cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. Drain well, rinse, drain again and then set the cucumbers and onions aside.
• In a nonreactive pot, combine all the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring once or twice to dissolve the brown sugar. Reduce the heat to low, simmer for 3 minutes and then pour the liquid over the cucumbers and onions. The cucumbers should be amply covered or slightly afloat.
• Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate. These pickles have good flavor as soon as they are cool, but the flavor will deepen if you let them sit for 24 hours. They will keep, covered and refrigerated, for a month or more.