German Pork Burger

Juicy burger made with ground pork, seasoned with caraway seeds, juniper berries, pepper and sour cream, topped with mustard and sauerkraut.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated June 16, 2022
Elise Bauer
German Pork Burger
Elise Bauer

My father turned to me the other day and remarked, "I like anything made with pork."

No duh dad. With a name like Bauer, what do you expect? The man practically has sauerkraut juice running through his veins.

Here is a burger that does my daddy proud.

We call it German not because they make them this way in Germany (who knows?) but because of the ingredients often found in many German dishes—caraway seeds, ground juniper berries, black pepper, sour cream, and of course, pork.

Oh yes, and you top it with grainy mustard and sauerkraut. Any more German and this burger would be wearing lederhosen.

German Pork Burger
Elise Bauer

This is one hellava burger, the kind that makes you close your eyes and smile while you eat it. The kind that makes you want to steal a bite from your dad's plate when he isn't looking and you ate yours too fast and finished before he did, but you don't because you know better than to get between your dad and the food he loves.

Enjoy!

German Pork Burger

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

Juniper berries are available whole in most good supermarkets, you'll need to crush them or grind them for this recipe. If you can't find juniper berries either omit them or substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of celery seeds instead. It will be a different flavor, but still good. If you don't eat pork, you can use ground beef instead.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground pork

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

  • 1 tablespoon ground juniper berries (optional)

  • 1 tablespoon caraway seeds

  • 1 tablespoon black pepper

  • 1/4 cup parsley, chopped

  • 1/4 cup sour cream

  • 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

  • Sauerkraut (to top burgers)

  • Whole grain mustard (to top burgers)

  • Burger buns

Method

  1. Make the burger mixture:

    Using your hands, mix in the salt, ground juniper berries, caraway seeds, and pepper in with the ground pork. Mix in the chopped parsley and sour cream.

  2. Form into patties:

    anywhere from 1/4 pound to 1/2 pound each.

  3. Cook the burgers:

    Heat a teaspoon or two of olive oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Add the burger patties to the pan, and cook slowly, 4 to 5 minutes each side, until the interior of the burgers reaches a temperature of 155°F.

    Alternatively, cook on a grill on medium heat, 4-5 minutes each side, until the burgers are cooked through.

  4. Toast the buns:

    Remove the burgers from the heat and toast the buns on the pan or grill.

  5. Assemble the burgers:

    Place each burger on a toasted bun half and toss with a dollop of whole grain mustard and a sprinkling of sauerkraut.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
591 Calories
36g Fat
22g Carbs
43g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 591
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 36g 46%
Saturated Fat 13g 66%
Cholesterol 148mg 49%
Sodium 1040mg 45%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 43g
Vitamin C 8mg 38%
Calcium 130mg 10%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 677mg 14%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.