Sliders with Pickled Onions and Spicy Mayo

 
As I planned our New Year's meal, I struggled with the idea of making a dinner with multiple courses like I did last year. Coming off the stomach flu at Christmas and now having a head cold that's left me with a sore throat for 5 days now, I just didn't have it in me this year to go to all that effort. Plus I'll end up eating too much and feeling fat and miserable the next day. Instead, I decided to go easy on myself and just go for a little comfort food. Something delicious and comforting to ring in the New Year and I thought of these Sliders I made the other night. These are my copy cat version of some amazing Pan Seared Chicken Sliders I had a few weeks ago from a local food truck called Belly BombZ. They were 'out of this world' delicious with some pickled onions, roasted peppers, lettuce and a spicy Korean Mayo, all on a toasted bun. Well, I loved them so much that I decided to try my hand at recreating it so that my husband could try them. Belly BombZ also served this incredible Cabbage Salad that I could've eaten three plates full of this great salad all by itself.  If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, here is my copy cat version of Belly BombZ Pan Seared Chicken Sliders with a side of Cabbage Salad with a Orange Miso Dressing. Happy New Year!

Note: There's a bit of prep for all these ingredients but it is well worth the effort. You will need to make the pickled onions at least a day ahead of time but three days is best. The pickled onions are the key to these sliders if you ask me, please don't leave them out. They are not overpowering and they add a slight acidity with sweetness that goes so well with the mild chicken or turkey burger. Also you will need Miso for the cabbage salad. Miso, or soybean paste, can be found at your local Asian Market or Whole Foods in the refrigerated section. I used white miso in the dressing. Okay here we go...

Sliders with Pickled Onions and Spicy Mayo

Ground chicken or turkey patties (I used turkey)
garlic powder
onion powder
salt and pepper (to taste)

Pickled Onions (recipe link)
Spicy Mayo- 1/2 cup mayo with 1-2 T Garlic Chili Sauce
Roasted red and yellow peppers (how to link or use jarred peppers)
Lettuce
Slider size hamburger buns, toasted

Season meat with garlic and onion powders, salt and pepper. Grill or pan fry. Toast buns and spread both buns with spicy mayo, top burger with roasted red and yellow peppers (I used yellow peppers since that's all I had left in my freezer), lettuce and pickled onions. Enjoy!

Cabbage Salad

4 cups cabbage, shredded
1 cup red cabbage, shredded
1 cup shredded carrots
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 bunch green onions, sliced
sesame seeds
Orange Miso Dressing

Orange Miso Dressing (Adapted recipe from Epicurious.com)
1/4 cup white or yellow Miso
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup seasoned Rice vinegar
juice of 1/2 orange
2 t fresh grated ginger
1 t sesame oil
1/2 cup canola oil

Combine ingredients in a mini food processor and emulsify. Toss with Cabbage Salad.