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Teriyaki burger
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Teriyaki Burger Recipe

A nostalgic Japanese fast-food classic made healthy and elegant. This recipe features a sweet, savory, and thick teriyaki glaze that coats the patty flawlessly, balanced by a bright lemon-condensed milk mayonnaise. Perfectly satisfying whether using classic beef or a lean, wellness-forward chicken and tofu alternative.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Japanese, Yoshoku (Western-influenced Japanese)
Keyword: healthy japanese food, homemade teriyaki sauce, japanese burger, lean protein recipe, mos burger style, teriyaki burger
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

Burger Patty

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck 80% lean or lean chicken/tofu alternative
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Thick Teriyaki Glaze

  • 5 tbsp soy sauce
  • 5 tbsp mirin
  • 5 tbsp sake
  • 5 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp grated garlic
  • 1 1/2 tbsp potato starch
  • 1/4 cup water for the starch slurry

Lemon Mayonnaise

  • 4 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise Kewpie
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp condensed milk

For Assembly

  • 4 soft hamburger buns brioche or sesame seed, toasted
  • 1 head butterhead lettuce
  • 1 large tomato sliced
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Prepare the Teriyaki Glaze]

  • In a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, 2 tablespoons of water, ground ginger, and grated garlic. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
  • Let it cook for 1 to 2 minutes to cook off the alcohol, then turn the heat to low.
  • Whisk your potato starch and water slurry to ensure it's smooth, then pour it into the saucepan.
    add potato starch water
  • Whisk constantly until the sauce thickens completely and becomes beautifully glossy and translucent. Remove from heat and set aside.
    cooking teriyaki sauce

Mix the Lemon Mayonnaise

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the Japanese mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, and condensed milk until smooth. Set aside.
    mix mayo

Shape and Cook the Patties

  • In a large bowl, gently mix the ground beef (or alternative protein) with the salt, black pepper, and nutmeg until just blended. Divide into 4 equal portions and shape into patties about 1/2-inch wider than your burger buns.
  • Heat a frying pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat (or preheat a BBQ grill). Cook the patties on the first side until juices begin to pool on the surface.
    cook burger
  • Flip and cook for another 4 minutes, or until cooked to your desired doneness.
    cooking teriyaki burger

Assemble the Burgers

  • Remove the patties from the heat and coat them generously with the thick teriyaki glaze. Spread a layer of the lemon mayonnaise on the bottom of each toasted bun.
    teriyaki burger
  • Place the glazed patty down, then stack a slice of tomato and a crisp leaf of lettuce on top.
  • Spread a little extra lemon mayonnaise on the top bun, close the burger, and serve immediately.
    Teriyaki burger