Gorgonzola Burgers Recipes

GORGONZOLA BURGERS

Steps:

• Buy the right meat. For juicy burgers, get ground chuck with a fat content of at least 18%. Lean and extra-lean meat make tough, dry burgers. Also, the more freshly ground the meat is, the more tender and flavorful the burger: If your store has butchers, ask them to grind the meat fresh for you. (Or just grind your own, following our no-fuss method, see below.)
• Mix in salt very, very gently. The more you handle the meat, the tougher your burger will be. In a large bowl, pull the meat apart into small chunks, add salt, and toss gently with fingers spread apart until loosely mixed.
• Use wet hands to form patties. This keeps your hands from getting sticky. It also allows the meat to come together faster and prevents overhandling.
• Make patties thinner in the center. Divide the meat into 8 equal portions and form into 1/4- to 1/2-inch-thick patties. Divide gorgonzola into 4 equal portions; shape each into a disk and put on a patty. Top gorgonzola disks with remaining 4 patties and seal edges of patties around cheese. Gently shape patties so that they are about 1/4 inch thinner in center than on edges. (They'll shrink and even out when cooking.)
• Keep meat cold until it goes on the grill. Put the patties in the fridge while the grill heats up. This helps more of the flavor-carrying fat stay in the meat.
• Use a clean, well-oiled, preheated grill. Bits of debris encourage sticking, as does an unoiled surface and too low a temperature; you want your burgers to quickly sizzle, firm up, and release from the grill.
• Keep grill at a steady high heat (you can hold your hand 1 to 2 inches above grill level for 2 to 3 seconds). If using charcoal, you want ash-covered coals to produce even heat. With a gas grill, keep the lid down while cooking; with a charcoal grill, leave the lid off.
• Flip burgers once and at the right time. Constant turning will toughen and dry out meat, and if you flip too soon, burgers will stick. Cook 2 minutes per side for rare, 3 for medium-rare, 4 for medium, and 5 for well-done.
• Don't press on the burgers while they're cooking. The juice that seeps out holds most of the flavor and moisture.
• Let burgers rest a few minutes before eating. This allows them to finish cooking and allows their juices, which have collected on the surface during grilling, to redistribute throughout patty.
• The real secret: Grind your own meat.
• Grinding meat at home is not only easier than most people think, but also makes the moistest and most flavorful burgers. And, given the periodic safety concerns about commercially ground meat, home-ground is the way to go if you like your burgers cooked rare or medium. Manual meat grinders (about $30) are available at kitchen supply stores, and grinder attachments (about $50) for standing mixers work very well.
• For four 6-ounce burgers, buy 1 1/2 pounds chuck roast or sirloin, keeping a thin layer of fat on the meat.
• For added safety, bring a large pot of water to a boil and boil the roast for 30 to 60 seconds. Remove meat and rinse with cold water.
• Cut the meat into 1-inch pieces. In a large bowl, toss meat pieces with 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Chill the grinder for 30 minutes before starting (a cold grinder grinds more efficiently).
• Set up grinder according to manufacturer's instructions, using the coarse plate or setting. Feed meat into funnel and grind, stopping to clear the grinder if necessary. Put ground meat through grinder once more and proceed with step 2 above.
• Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

GRILLED GORGONZOLA-BASIL BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat. Lightly oil grill grate, and place about 4 inches from heat source.
• Mix the ground sirloin, garlic, onion powder, Gorgonzola cheese, and basil together in a large bowl until evenly blended. Divide mixture evenly to form four patties.
• Cook patties on preheated grill until meat is evenly browned and center is no longer pink, about 5 minutes on each side.

GORGONZOLA BURGERS

Steps:

• Combine the ground chuck, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt, and the pepper in a medium bowl and shape into six 1/2-inch-thick patties.
• Slice the tomatoes into 1/3-inch-thick rounds and place on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with the paprika and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Rub with the olive oil.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grill the burgers until cooked to the desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. On a clean, well-oiled area of the grill, grill the tomatoes until just charred, about 2 minutes per side. Grill the ciabatta rolls, cut-side down, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes.
• Place the burgers on the bottom halves of the rolls. Top each with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the gorgonzola, a tomato slice and some arugula. Cover with the roll tops and serve.

JALAPENO BURGERS WITH GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• In a small skillet, heat oil and butter over medium heat. Add onion, salt and sugar; cook and stir until onion is softened, 3-4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until deep golden brown, stirring occasionally, 4-6 minutes., In a large bowl, mix jelly, salt and pepper. Add beef; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into four 1/2-in. thick patties., Grill burgers, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat until a thermometer reads 160°, 4-5 minutes on each side. Serve on buns with caramelized onion, cheese and, if desired, sliced jalapeno.

GORGONZOLA BURGERS

Steps:

• Mix ground chuck and Cajun hot sauce together in a large bowl. Form mixture into 4 burgers of equal size. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat charcoal grill to medium-high heat. When coals are white hot, scatter soaked chips over. When chips have ashed over, grill burgers, turning once, to desired doneness.
• Meanwhile, toast muffaletta buns on grill. Place finished burgers on buns, top with maple bacon and Gorgonzola Cheese Sauce. Spear burgers with skewers or long toothpicks and quarter each. Serve Barbecue Sauce on the side.
• In small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour to make a roux. Cook until flour loses its raw smell, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk in cream, stock and wine. Simmer over low heat until smooth and thickened, about 5 minutes. Whisk in cheese, bring just to a simmer, then serve immediately.
• Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce pan, whisking until combined. Bring to a simmer and cook over low heat until slightly thickened, about 5 to 10 minutes.