Episode 239: Wild Burger 101: Recipes, Toppings, and Cooking Tips
Summary:
In this episode, Justin Townsend and Adam Berkelmans dive deep into the art and evolution of the burger, with a special focus on wild game and foraged ingredients. They trace the burger’s origins from the Mongol Empire to today’s gourmet variations, highlighting its transformation from a humble meal to a canvas for culinary creativity. The duo explores essential burger-building techniques—from selecting the right protein, bun, and fat content to grinding meat, shaping patties, and using fillers and binders for optimal texture. They also emphasize the importance of resting the meat and choosing toppings that balance flavor and texture. Personal preferences and inventive recipes take center stage, with a playful twist as they create wild burgers using unconventional ingredients. Throughout, the conversation celebrates experimentation and encourages listeners to explore the endless possibilities of burger-making.
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Links:
Moroccan Style Lake Trout Burger
Seared Tuna Burger
Moose Burgers on Bannock Buns
Havarti Stuffed Venison Burgers
Takeaways:
Wild burgers made from venison, bear, or foraged ingredients offer a unique, pride-filled twist on tradition.
Fat content and fillers are key to achieving juicy, well-textured patties, especially with lean wild game.
Toppings can elevate or detract from flavor—balance, texture, and order all matter.
Cooking methods, grinding, and resting techniques significantly impact taste and moisture.
The burger has evolved from Mongol roots to a global icon, now reinvented with gourmet ingredients and creative twists.
Experimentation with styles, toppings, and sliders leads to fun and flavorful discoveries.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Wild Burgers
01:29 Exploring Wild Ingredients
02:26 The History of the Burger
10:02 The Evolution of the Burger
12:26 The Wild Burger Build Off
22:24 Crafting the Perfect Burger: Ingredients and Techniques
24:46 Building Better Burgers: Choosing the Right Bun
27:49 Selecting the Right Protein for Wild Game Burgers
31:21 The Importance of Fat in Burger Making
34:11 Fillers and Binders: Enhancing Burger Texture
37:37 Grinding and Shaping: The Foundation of a Great Burger
40:58 Cooking Techniques: Searing vs. Grilling Burgers
43:52 Final Touches: Toppings and Resting Your Burger
46:40 The Art of Burger Toppings
52:50 Unusual Burger Toppings and Personal Preferences
59:36 Burger Cooking Techniques and Styles
1:03:34 Creative Burger Recipes and Innovations
Keywords:
Wild burgers, venison, bear, trout, foraged toppings, burger history, burger evolution, wild game, cooking techniques, grilling, burger recipes, unique recipes, burger making, burger styles, burger build-off, flavor balance, protein selection, burger ingredients, food conservation, culinary tips, burger toppings, cooking methods
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Wild Fish and Game Podcast
Join Justin Townsend and the Harvesting Nature Crew as they guide you through the world of cooking wild fish and game meat, their adventures to obtain food, and the lessons learned along the way. They are also frequently joined by some of the most influential people in the world of wild food to dive deep into food conversation to positively promote the lifestyle of harvesting, cooking, and eating wild food.
Harvesting Nature is a media outlet with the main focus to educate and inspire those wishing to live the outdoor lifestyle with a focus of hunting, foraging, and fishing for food. Follow along with us as we help you Find your Wilderness.
Please reach out with questions and comments to [email protected]
- No. of episodes: 240
- Latest episode: 2025-06-17
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