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.

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.

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.

TURKEY GORGONZOLA BURGERS WITH CRANBERRY MUSTARD

Steps:

• Make cranberry mustard sauce first by mixing together all ingredients. Makes about 3/4 cup.
• Wrap buns in foil.
• Place pecans on a baking sheet.
• Bake the buns and pecans for 8 minutes at 350 degrees F. Remove pecans from the oven but leave the buns inches.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey with the next 4 ingredients. Blend well. Shape into 6, 3/4" thick patties.
• Cook patties in a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat, 6 minute per side or until done.
• Remove buns from the oven and spread the cranbery mustard sauce on the buns to your liking.
• Arrange half of spinach leaves on evenly on the bottom halves of the buns, top with turkey patties, toasted pecans and remaining spinach.
• Top with with remaining bun halves.
• Serve with remaining cranberry mustard.

GORGONZOLA AND BACON STUFFED BURGERS

Steps:

• Dice bacon and fry until crisp. Drain.
• Crumble Gorgonzola cheese and set aside.
• Divide ground beef into eight thin patties.
• Top four of the patties with the bacon and Gorgonzola, dividing it evenly.
• Top with the four remaining patties, close and seal the burgers.
• Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Cook over a hot fire for 2-3 minutes per side.