“Mmm-mmmm. That is a tasty burger.”
It’s The Burger Bite Heard Around The Cinematic World!
When Samuel L. Jackson asks if he can try the “Big Kahuna Burger”, bites into it and then casually offers his opinion of it, a legend was born!
Here is that wildly entertaining moment from Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 Oscar-nominated film “Pulp Fiction”:
More on the film, including the incredible remastered blu-ray stuffed with great extras, to share with you in a moment but first, as Samuel L. said:
“Big Kahuna Burger. That’s that Hawaiian burger joint. I hear they got some tasty burgers. I ain’t never had one myself. How are they?”
Well, only one way to find out – let’s make one!
The “Big Kahuna Burger” Recipe!
As a fan of burgers, and Quentin, I went online and searched out the recipe – and there are many to choose from, but this seemed to capture the essence of what a great burger from a “Hawaiian Burger Joint” would look like.
Here are the ingredients and recipe to make 4 burgers, or two mega burgers:
1 pound ground beef or bison
2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
1 tablespoon grill seasoning
4 pineapple rings (canned or fresh)
4 pieces bacon, cooked until crisp
4 slices monterey jack cheese
As is usual, making the burger itself is fairly straightforward: as you can see from the picture above, you just mix the ground meat with the teriyaki sauce and grill seasoning in a medium bowl. Divide into four quarter-pound patties.
Here is a shot of teriyaki sauce being poured over the hamburger in case you need that sort of thing…
Grill pineapple slices for approx 1 minute on each side on your grill of choice. There were no pineapple rings available, but I took the spears and “slimmed” them down to the size of a ring, and gave them about 3 minutes on each side:
Next up, just form and cook your burgers until you get your desired doneness on a grill of choice – I always go medium rare. Place a piece of bacon on each and then top with a piece of jack cheese to hold the bacon in place.
Here is that entire process in pictures – beginning with putting my patties on the grill and flipping after about 4 minutes:
While the burgers are cooking, toast your bun and slather on some Spicy Cilantro Mayo like so:
Spicy Cilantro Mayo – made this way:
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Sriracha or chili sauce
1 tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped
Now, pull the burgers off the grill, lay on the bun, top with the pineapple, add your top and here is what you get!
Behold My Big Kahuna Burger!
Well, I’m pleased with the aesthetic – it stacked nicely and offered me a few chances to capture in all of its majesty before biting into it!
As you can see, the “double patty double bacon and double cheese” strategy makes for a big mouthful, but I think it’s necessary, because the grilled pineapple has a ton of flavor! It’s sweetness is nicely counter-balanced by the Sriracha sauce, leaving me with a very satisfying taste!
The “Big Kahuna” is delicious, and while I won’t dig into one all that often (full disclosure: I am NOT a pineapple fan) but it works well as a tasty change of pace! One note: here is that Samuel L. Jackson shot from the film:
Note that bit of lettuce sticking out? I didn’t have that included in the recipe I found, which just means “The Big Kahuna Burger” can go on in many unique and tasty directions.
I found my recipe at “Food Republic” – thanks to that group and please go visit them here:
Now, speaking of going off in unique directions, time to watch the entire “Pulp Fiction” – the Best Screenplay Oscar-winning film noir that is explosively entertaining:
I was lucky to see this film at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, a full 5 months before it was released, and became a pop culture phenomenon. My wife Alex and I also interviewed the entire cast – we were blown away by this movie!
Of course, we see Uma Thurman dig into a Big Kahuna Burger in the movie sequence that involves Travolta babysitting his boss’s wife – Thurman. So they go get a Big Kahuna Burger and end up on the dance floor – yes, this iconic moment happens right after she digs into a Big Kahuna burger!
This film heralded Travolta’s long-overdue movie comeback, and when we interviewed him he was charming, polite and articulate – and the film is always worth a re-watch and deep dive, because it is so significant in the history of cinema…and has a delicious burger as well!
If you want something more refined, this is an impressive dish for friends and loved ones, how about this Sous Video Lobster:
Here is the recipe – and the story of why it took me 3 days to make!
All year long, I am doing a “52 In 22” cooking challenge, going around the world to explore new tastes:
I made a tradition Spanish Paella from Valencia – so why did I make it twice?
See that story and the delicious recipe by clicking here:
I also made a dish that needed two tries to get right, just like this Paella:
As delicious as these unique “Potato Chip Eggs” were, it took two tries to get it right!
Click here to see why:
I love food, no matter how many times it takes to get it right!
My food blog has all of them as well, plus so much more!
Click here to sign up and see all of the fun food from around the world I share!
Let me know what you think of my “52 In 22” challenge and my “tale of two Paellas!”
If you like the story, share it with friends on social media! Thanks!
Let me know if you are going to make your own “Big Kahuna!”
Categories: 52 In 22!, Bacon, Bite Eat Swallow, Bite! Eat! Repeat!, Books / Media, Burgers, Cheeseburgers, Cookbooks, Eat This!, Fast Food, Food, Food Pictures, Food Porn, Movies, Recipes, Restaurants, Sliders, Wacky Food, World's Wildest Food
Bite! Eat! Repeat! 
I LOVE that film, and would love to eat the burger too!
Best wishes, Pete.
I remember this scene, John, and you have mentioned it before. Good for you making this burgher. Your patty recipe is much simpler than mine.