Bonkers Burger Sauce (Harissa Edition)

A truly 'bonkers' burger sauce that's creamy, tangy, sweet, and now with a fantastic smoky heat from harissa. This sauce takes your burgers from delicious to absolutely legendary with its complex and unforgettable flavor profile.

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 0 min
Total Time: 10 min
Servings: 4
AmericanMiddle Eastern

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Mayonnaise (full-fat for best creaminess)
  • 1/4 cup Ketchup
  • 4 tbsp Harissa paste (adjust to your spice preference)
  • 2 tbsp Sweet pickle relish (or finely chopped sweet gherkins)
  • 1 tsp White vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
  • 1/2 tsp Smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp Onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)
  • 1 tsp Sugar (or to taste, balances the acidity)
  • 1/4 tsp Salt (or to taste)
  • 1/8 tsp Black pepper (freshly ground)

Instructions

  1. 1.

    In a medium mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, harissa paste, and sweet pickle relish.

    Time: 2 min
  2. 2.

    Add the white vinegar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper (if using), and sugar. Stir well to combine all ingredients thoroughly.

    Time: 3 min
  3. 3.

    Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Mix again to ensure seasonings are evenly distributed.

    Time: 1 min
  4. 4.

    For best results, cover the bowl and refrigerate the Bonkers Burger Sauce for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and deepen.

    Time: 30 min
  5. 5.

    Serve generously on your favorite burgers, sandwiches, or as a dipping sauce for fries.

Tips

  • 💡Adjust the amount of harissa to your desired level of spice. Start with less and add more if you like it extra hot!
  • 💡For an even smoother sauce, you can blend all ingredients in a food processor, but whisking by hand works perfectly.
  • 💡This sauce can be made up to 3-4 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  • 💡Experiment with different types of relish – dill relish will give it a more savory, less sweet profile.

Recipe from TheCookbook.ai

Created by Shannon Williams