Crispy Smash Burger Dumpling Tacos
Forget Fusion, Hello FUN: Smash Burger Dumpling Tacos Are Here!
Hold onto your hats, because we've reached peak culinary mashup, and it is glorious. Move over cronuts and ramen burgers—there's a new, wildly delicious hybrid hitting the scene: the Smash Burger Dumpling Taco.
It sounds chaotic, maybe even a little crazy, but trust me, this is the perfect convergence of crunchy texture, savory flavor, and pure handheld fun. It takes the sizzling, meaty perfection of a smash burger and tucks it inside a crispy, pan-fried dumpling shell.
Forget everything you think you know about Tuesday night dinner. This is the ultimate three-way food fusion that your taste buds have been waiting for!
The Anatomy of the Smash Burger Dumpling Taco
What exactly is a Smash Burger Dumpling Taco? Let's break down the layers of genius:
The Shell: Crispy Dumpling Wrapper
Instead of a corn or flour tortilla, we use a slightly larger gyoza or dumpling wrapper. These are pan-fried until they are golden brown, shatteringly crisp on the edges, and retain a satisfying, pliable chewiness in the middle. They offer a delicate, savory base that stands up perfectly to the fillings without stealing the show.
The Core: The Ultimate Smash Patty
The star of the show! The secret to a great smash burger is maximizing that gorgeous, craggy, crusty surface area.
We use a small ball of high-quality, high-fat ground beef that is spread thinly and flat onto the dumpling wrapper
We press it firmly onto a sizzling hot griddle or skillet, meat side down, until it forms a thin, crispy patty.
A sprinkle of salt and pepper is all it needs. This provides an intense, beefy, caramelized flavor that contrasts beautifully with the delicate dumpling shell.
The Toppings: Classic Burger Meets Asian Twist
This is where you make it your own! The toppings are designed to be crunchy, tangy, and messy—just like a proper taco or burger:
The Sauce: Forget ketchup and mustard. We opt for a spicy chili oil that packs a punch for an authentic Asian-inspired complexity.
Pickled Goods and Crunch: Thinly sliced pickles or kimchi bring the acid and brine needed to cut through the richness of the beef patty.
Crispy Smash Burger Dumpling Tacos
Serves about 4
Ingredients
For the Dumpling Tacos:
4-5 green onions, chopped (half for the burger filling and half for garnishing)
2lbs ground beef or pork mince (i used beef)
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 inch piece of ginger, grated (or about 1 tablespoon ginger paste)
3-4 tablespoons light soy sauce
1-2 tablespoon sesame oil
pinch of salt and black pepper
About 30 dumpling wrappers
Olive oil for oiling the pan (optional)
For the Quick Pickled Cucumber:
2 cucumbers thinly sliced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
Other Toppings:
Green onions
Chili oil
Sesame seeds
Method
Make the dumpling mixture. In a large mixing bowl, add in the ground beef or pork, garlic, grated ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt and black pepper. Mix to combine, making sure all the seasoning is evenly spread throughout the meat.
Prepare the pickled cucumbers. Mix the thinly sliced cucumbers with the grated ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, salt, and sesame seeds, then set aside.
Assemble the tacos. Spoon a tablespoon of the meat filling onto each dumpling wrapper, and use a spoon to press the mixture into a thin layer.
Cook the tacos. Set a large frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat, and add a little bit of olive oil. Place the prepared dumpling tacos onto the pan with the meat side down. Quickly, use a spatula to press and smash down the dumplings to prevent the meat from shrinking too much. Cook for four minutes, then flip the dumplings and cook for another minute or two to get the wrappers nice and crispy. Remove from the pan, then repeat with the rest of the dumplings.
Garnish and serve. Sprinkle with green onions, spoon the pickled cucumber onto each taco and chili oil. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top as well. Enjoy!
