The fictional burger joint Big Kahuna Burger is mentioned in several of Quentin Tarantino’s films, but the most memorable reference occurs in Pulp Fiction, in the infamous scene when Jules and Vincent bust in on the unfortunate folks who wronged Marcellus Wallace, and proceed to eat their burgers and shoot up the place.
Big Kahuna Burger is clearly a HA-waiian-themed burger joint, but what Jules appears to be eating in the scene is a typical fast-food burger. I reconciled those two things so that the burger would taste Hawaiian, but look like the generic burger from the film. In true fast-food tradition, I put the differentiating element in the patty itself. The patties are made with pineapple and bacon mixed into the beef and coated in teriyaki sauce. Make sure to eat them before eleven in the morning because hamburgers are, in the immortal words of Jules, the cornerstone of any nutritious breakfast.
MAKES 6-8 BURGERS
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) ground beef
- 10 slices bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
- 1/2 red onion, minced
- 1 egg
- 20-ounce (567 g) can crushed pineapple, thoroughly drained 2 tablespoons bread crumbs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Teriyaki glaze, to coat
- 6-8 plain hamburger buns
- 6-8 slices cheddar cheese
- Excessive ketchup
- Pickles, tomato, onion, and mayo, for serving (optional)
- 6-8 leaves iceberg lettuce (optional)
Method
- Heat grill to medium. You can also use a skillet over medium-high heat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, bacon, onion, egg, crushed pineapple, bread crumbs, and salt and pepper.
- Form 6-8 meat patties from the mixture—their size will depend on how large the buns are.
- Coat each patty with the teriyaki glaze.
- Grill or fry the patties on both sides to the desired doneness.
- While the patties are cooking, toast the buns.
- When the patties are done, glaze each one again with more teriyaki then top with a slice of cheese.
- Spread some ketchup over the cheese and place the patties on the bottom bun. Load up with any additional burger toppings you want to use, then finish with some lettuce leaves. Close each burger with the top bun and press down.
- Use the burger as an effective intimidation technique because you are bad… and wash down with a tasty beverage—like Sprite!
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