An umami venison burger with bacon. [IAN NANCE] An umami burger is a burger with fish sauce worked into the meat which delivers a strong, savory flavor to the meal. A cold beer and a cheeseburger on the Fourth of July are tough to beat. Untold thousands […]
My current favorite offering is an umami burger. This is simply a burger with fish sauce worked into the meat which delivers a strong, savory flavor to the meal. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
After dithering with several recipes, I’ve landed with the following as my blue-ribbon entry:
‒ Two pounds ground venison with 30% beef fat.
‒ Half slab of thick-cut smoked bacon.
‒ Two tablespoons fish sauce.
‒ One teaspoon brown sugar.
‒ One teaspoon garlic salt.
‒ One teaspoon ground black pepper.
‒ Seasoned Salt.
‒ Half-pound chipotle-gouda cheese slices.
‒ Brioche hamburger buns.
‒ Assorted Toppings.
‒ Canola oil.
Just a note — venison burgers are best when seared on a griddle or cast-iron skillet. I love my Blackstone Griddle Grill as I can crisp the bacon and heat the buns on the same cooktop as the burgers.
For the recipe, thoroughly mix the venison, fish sauce, sugar, garlic salt, and pepper in a bowl. Roll a handful of meat to the size of a baseball and dust with the seasoned salt. Prep the griddle with a couple of tablespoons of canola oil and heat until it’s lightly smoking. Place the patties on the griddle and smash with a spatula. Flip the hamburgers after four minutes and cook for another four to five minutes until they’re about medium.
Once finished, allow them to rest for a few minutes before assembling the toppings and cracking open that beer. For a crazy twist, try a scoop of peanut butter on top. You won’t be sorry.
Happy Independence Day!
Outdoor Expo coming to RP Funding Center
The Outdoor Life/Field & Stream Florida Expo is coming to the RP Funding Center in Lakeland on July 24-26.
Formerly known as the Big Buck Expo, this event will feature top companies and the latest gear for local hunters to peruse. Also, attending this year will be archery trick shot artist Byron Ferguson.
Per usual, the Expo will have numerous exhibit booths, door prizes and an opportunity for hunters to have their trophy bucks scored by professionals.
For more on the Expo, including ticket information and COVID-19 guidelines, please visit www.fieldandstreamexpo.com/outdoor-life-field-stream-expo-r-fl.
New deer harvest reporting procedures
Last season, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission introduced a deer harvest reporting system to collect data on the success of the state’s hunters. This year, they’ve endeavored to make the reporting process easier with the following two options:
‒ Option A – Report the harvest on a mobile device with the Fish|Hunt Florida App or at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
‒ Option B – Fill out a paper deer harvest log and later report at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, the Fish|Hunt Florida App, or call 888-HUNT-FLORIDA (888-486-8356).
Reporting harvested deer is mandatory and a critical chore performed by Florida’s hunters to help manage the state’s deer populations.
For more information, please visit myfwc.com/hunting/deer/harvest-report.
Visit goodhunt.blogs.theledger.com for more on hunting. Contact Ian Nance at inance880@aol.com. And be sure to follow Polk Outdoors on Facebook.
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