Jul 09 2026
RestaurantsLeña RestauranteBurger Recipe

Burger Recipe

Inspired by Leña Restaurante
Time72h
Serves4

72-hour brined and 24-cooked capicola shoulder bacon, crispy and basted in ancho barbecue sauce, served on a brioche milk bun with frites.

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Ingredients

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Brined Capicola Shoulder Bacon

Ancho Barbecue Sauce

Burger Assembly

Method

Brining the Capicola

  1. 1

    Prepare the Brine

    In a large pot, combine kosher salt, brown sugar, black peppercorns, crushed garlic, thyme, and water. Stir until the salt and sugar are dissolved.

  2. 2

    Brine the Capicola

    Submerge the capicola in the brine and refrigerate for 72 hours, turning occasionally.

Cooking the Capicola

  1. 3

    Cook the Brined Capicola

    Remove the capicola from the brine, rinse it under cold water, and pat dry. Smoke or roast the capicola at 225°F (107°C) until it reaches an internal temperature of 190°F (88°C), approximately 24 hours.

Preparing the Ancho Barbecue Sauce

  1. 4

    Make the Sauce

    In a saucepan, combine ancho chili powder, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Assembling the Burger

  1. 5

    Assemble the Burger

    Slice the brioche buns in half and toast them. Place a lettuce leaf and a slice of tomato on the bottom half of each bun. Add a generous portion of the crispy capicola shoulder bacon. Drizzle with ancho barbecue sauce and top with the other half of the bun.

  2. 6

    Serve

    Serve the burgers immediately with a side of frites.

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