My family loves my ham loaf, so I decided to make the ham loaf mixture into patties and grill them—it was an instant hit. Adding the arugula gives these burgers a peppery bite and honey mustard dressing adds just the right sweet and sour flavor. —Susan Bickta, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds fully cooked boneless ham
3/4 pound ground pork
2 large eggs
2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened crushed pineapple plus 3 tablespoons juice
1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
8 slices Swiss cheese (1 ounce each)
8 kaiser rolls, split
2 large tomatoes, cut in sixteen 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup honey mustard salad dressing
1-1/2 cups fresh baby arugula, packed
Additional honey mustard salad dressing, optional
Instructions
1Pulse ham in food processor until finely ground. Combine with pork, eggs, cracker crumbs, brown sugar, pineapple and juice, mustard and cloves. Mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 8 patties. Using fingertips, make a shallow indentation in center of each patty so it remains flat while grilling. Refrigerate 1 hour.
2Grill burgers, covered, on a greased rack over medium-high direct heat for 5-6 minutes; turn and grill another 3-4 minutes. Add 1 slice cheese to each burger; grill, covered, until cheese melts, 1-2 minutes more. Remove from heat when a thermometer reads 160°.
3Place a burger on bottom half of each roll; add 2 tomato slices. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon honey mustard dressing. Divide arugula evenly among rolls; top each burger with a few sprigs. Replace top half of roll. If desired, serve with additional dressing.
