Asian burgers with fresh herbs

Ingredients

• 1 pound excellent quality ground beef
  
• 4 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
  
• 1/8 cup chopped red onion
  
• 1/8 cup chopped scallion bulb (the white part)
  
• 1 tablespoon rolled and chopped spearmint leaves
  
• 1 tablespoon rolled and snipped Thai basil
  
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon grass, chopped
  
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  
• 4 tablespoons cooked jasmine or basmati rice
  
• scant pinch of kosher salt
  
• 2 teaspoons mixed fresh lemon and lime zest
  
• 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley, chopped
  
• Thai basil leaves and lime wedges or slices for garnish
  
• hardwood coals for grill
  
• shredded red cabbage and a lemon-lime vinaigrette dressing with sunflowers sprouts as topping
  
• use mini pita pockets, or lettuce, rice paper wrappers or rolls
  

Directions

1. Prepare your grill.
2. Combine all the food ingredients to form the burger patties.
3. Grill 2-4 minutes per side, as you like on a hot grill. Serve plain or with a Thai sauce on rolls; in mini pita pockets; with lettuce leaves; or even Spring Roll Wrappers (also known as rice paper, rice paper rounds, spring roll skin, edible rice paper, wraps, banh trang or summer roll wrappers-follow directions to soak in water first). Garnish with Thai basil and lime, cabbage and sprouts.