Napa Valley Cabernet Burgers Recipes

NAPA VALLEY BASIL-SMOKED BURGERS

Steps:

• • Pairs well with Sutter Home Zinfandel.
• Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.
• To make the mayonnaise, combine the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
• To make the patties, combine the sirloin, Zinfandel, basil, onion, bread crumbs, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic salt in a large bowl. Handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form the portions into patties to fit the rolls.
• When the grill is ready, brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Toss the moistened basil sprigs directly onto the fire. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once, until done to preference, 5 to 7 minutes on each side for medium. During the last few minutes of cooking, place the rolls, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly. During the last minute of cooking, top each patty with a cheese slice.
• To assemble the burgers, spread the mayonnaise over the cut sides of the rolls. On each roll bottom, place a lettuce leaf, a patty, a tomato slice, an onion slice, and a basil sprig. Add the roll tops and serve.

NAPA VALLEY CABERNET BURGERS

Steps:

• Boil wine and shallots in medium saucepan until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 20 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon butter and brown sugar; whisk until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Mix remaining 8 tablespoons butter and rosemary in small bowl. Set aside.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Mix beef, salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup wine-shallot mixture in bowl. Form meat into four 5-inch squares or rounds. Brush grill rack with oil. Grill burgers until brown on bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn burgers and brush with wine-shallot mixture. Continue grilling burgers until cooked to desired doneness, turning and brushing occasionally with wine-shallot mixture, about 4 minutes longer for medium-rare. Sprinkle with cheese after last turn and grill until cheese melts.
• Spread cut sides of bread with rosemary butter. Grill, cut side down, until golden, about 2 minutes. Arrange bread, grilled side up, on plates. Top bottom halves with burgers, then tomatoes and arugula. Cover with top halves of bread.

CABERNET BURGERS

Steps:

• Combine wine and brown sugar and simmer until reduced to about 1/2 - 3/4 cup (depends how potent you want the wine flavor), about 25-30 minutes. Let cool. This can be made ahead of time, or in a larger batch and stored in a bottle in the fridge.
• Combine the beef, glaze, salt and pepper and gently mix. The beef should take on a much deeper red shade from the wine.
• Shape into 4 patties, make sure to make an indent in the center with your thumb or the back of a teaspoon to compensate for the rising while cooking.
• Grill over direct high heat for about 8-10 minutes per side, turning only once. You can also brush them with some additional glaze while cooking.