Spicy Chicken Burger

Ingredient Spotlight

Panko breadcrumbs

Panko are Japanese-style breadcrumbs made from crustless white bread that’s processed into large, airy flakes; they produce a much lighter, crunchier crust than regular breadcrumbs and have a very neutral flavor. They originate from Japan and are commonly used for frying (e.g., tonkatsu) or for a crisp topping. You can find panko in the Asian aisle of most supermarkets or at any Asian market. Good substitutes are regular breadcrumbs (they’ll be denser), crushed cornflakes or crushed crackers for extra crunch, or you can pulse slices of white bread to approximate the texture.

Ingredient Spotlight

Brioche burger buns

Brioche is a French enriched yeast bread made with plenty of butter and eggs, yielding a soft, tender crumb and a slightly sweet, rich flavor that makes a decadent burger bun. The buns are often shiny on top from an egg wash and hold up well to juicy fillings while adding a buttery note. Look for them in bakery sections, specialty bakeries, or the bread aisle (fresh or frozen) at many supermarkets. If you can’t find brioche, use potato rolls, challah rolls, or lightly buttered and toasted regular hamburger buns as a reasonable substitute.

Ingredient Spotlight

smoked paprika

Smoked paprika (Spanish pimentón) is made from fully ripened red peppers that are smoked and dried before grinding, giving it a pronounced smoky, sweet, and slightly earthy flavor distinct from regular paprika. It’s a staple in Spanish cooking and adds both color and smoke without heat (there are hot varieties as well). Find it in the spice aisle or at specialty/ethnic markets. If you don’t have it, substitute with sweet paprika plus a tiny pinch of chipotle powder or a drop of liquid smoke, or use chipotle powder alone and adjust for heat.