Cedar Planked Burger Recipes

CEDAR-PLANKED BURGER

Steps:

• Submerge the cedar planks in cold water and soak for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the shallots and cook until the mushrooms are golden brown, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in the thyme and season with salt and pepper.
• Remove the planks from the water, put them on a baking sheet, and place them in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove and brush the tops of the planks with canola oil.
• Raise the oven temperature to 425°F.
• Divide the meat into 4 equal portions. Form each portion loosely into a 3/4-inch-thick burger and then make a deep depression in the center with your thumb. Season both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.
• Place 2 burgers on each plank, leaving a few inches between the burgers. Brush the tops of the burgers with some of the barbecue sauce and place the planks in the oven. Cook, basting with some of the sauce every few minutes, until the burgers reach the desired doneness, 10 to 12 minutes for medium-rare. Top each burger with 2 slices of cheese during the last minute of cooking.
• Remove from the oven and top each burger with a large spoonful of the mushrooms. Serve the warm buns on the side.
• RED WINE BARBECUE SAUCE
• Heat the oil in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground ancho, paprika, and ground chile de árbol and cook for 30 seconds. Raise the heat to high, add the wine, and boil until completely evaporated.
• Add the ketchup and 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the mustard, vinegar, Worcestershire, chipotle, brown sugar, honey, and molasses and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer the mixture to a food processor and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool at room temperature. The sauce will keep for 1 week in a tightly sealed container stored in the refrigerator.

CEDAR PLANKED BURGERS

Steps:

• For the grilled mushrooms and onions: Prepare a charcoal grill for direct and indirect heat. Brush the portobello mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms and onions with oil on both sides and season with salt and pepper. Grill over direct heat on both sides until slightly charred and just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Reserve for the burgers.
• For the burgers: Remove the planks from the water and place them over direct heat for about 2 minutes per side. Remove the planks from the grill and brush the top side with oil.
• Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Form each portion loosely into a 3/4-inch-thick burger and make a deep depression in the center with your thumb. Brush with canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put the burgers on the grill over direct heat and cook until nicely charred, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until the second side is charred, about 3 minutes. Place 2 burgers on each cedar plank. Put the planks over indirect heat, brush each burger with 1 tablespoon Red Wine Barbeque Sauce and top each with 2 slices of cheese. Cover the grill to melt the cheese and finish cooking, about 5 minutes.
• Put the burgers on the bottom buns and top each with more barbeque sauce, some mushroom caps, some grilled onions and the top bun. Serve immediately.
• Combine the ketchup, 1 cup water, ancho chile powder, honey, molasses, sugar, mustard, paprika, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chile de arbol, and chipotle chile in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, bring the wine to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until reduced to 1 cup, about 20 minutes. Stir the reduced wine into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool at room temperature. (The sauce will keep for 1 week in the refrigerator stored in a tightly sealed container.)

CEDAR PLANKED SALMON

Steps:

• Soak the cedar planks for at least 1 hour in warm water. Soak longer if you have time.
• In a shallow dish, stir together the vegetable oil, rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, green onions, ginger, and garlic. Place the salmon fillets in the marinade and turn to coat. Cover and marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to one hour.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat. Place the planks on the grate. The boards are ready when they start to smoke and crackle just a little.
• Place the salmon fillets onto the planks and discard the marinade. Cover, and grill for about 20 minutes. Fish is done when you can flake it with a fork. It will continue to cook after you remove it from the grill.