Recipe: Caprese Burgers

We made the Caprese Burgers recipe from Food and Wine Magazine (Aug 2012, p.64).  It was fine but not amazing.  It just didn't wow our taste buds, but it helped us use up some of the basil we've been growing.

Basically, the recipe calls for making a pesto using basil, salted roasted almonds, garlic, olive oil, pecorino-Romano cheese and salt & pepper.  The pesto is mixed into the meat and is also used on top of the burger which has fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. 

Again, it was fine.

But still, no burger compares to the Triple Smoke Burger recipe, the best burger recipe we've come across.

Recipe: Double Cheeseburgers with Caramelized Onions

Our single (not double) cheeseburger
with caramelized onions

The Fourth of July. . . you have to have a burger (or a hot dog), right?! 

I had flagged the 'Double Cheeseburgers with Caramelized Onions' recipe in Food and Wine Magazine's June 2012 issue (p. 32), and only upon closer reading, realized that this is a recipe from Chef Ron Boyd who works at Daniel Patteson's Plum in Oakland, CA.  Plum is a wonderful restaurant that I dined at and blogged about back in September.

After making this burger and the Triple Smoke Burger , I just can't bring myself to order a burger in a restaurant anymore.  These recipes are out of this world, seriously, and beat any restaurant burger I've ever had.  Try them and you'll understand why.

For this recipe:

• We left out the cornichons and the fresh flat-leaf parsley, but I think we should include them next time to add additional flavor dimensions.
• As you can see from the photo, we made these with single, not double patties.  (Trying to be healthy!)
• We grilled the burgers instead of cooking them on a griddle.
• We used just a little EVOO -- the 1/4 cup isn't necessary.
• The fresh brioche buns and the mix of cheese along with the paprika mayonnaise make this burger incredible.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/double-cheeseburgers-with-caramelized-onions

Recipe: Triple Smoke Burger

(Pardon the background -- I was too hungry
to move all of the stuff off the kitchen table)

Update 4/23/12
I just have to post this recipe again since we made this burger recipe last night.  It has the best flavor of any burger I've ever eaten.

----------------------------------------

This was the most amazing burger we've ever made at home.  Talk about flavor.   

• Meat seasoned with paprika and chipotle in adobo
• Bacon (everyone loves bacon!)
• Grilled red onion
• Grilled avocado
• Cilantro
• Tomato
• Lettuce
• Mayo, dijon mustard, chipotle in adobo spread

You have to try this or at the very least . . . try seasoning the meat per the recipe.  It's easy, easy, easy.

Here's the recipe: 
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Triple-Smoke-Burger-365889

Recipe: Tired of the same 'ol burger?

I'm not sure which magazine clipping these burger ideas came from (I think it was InStyle Magazine from a while back).  We made the first 2 which were simple and tasty.  We haven't tried the other 2, so if you do, let me know how they turn out!

1.  Sriracha hot chili sauce, roasted red pepper and grilled pineapple (left, in photo)
     Inspired by The High on Fire at Kuma's Corner, Chicago

2.  Burger with brie, fig jam, arugula and caramelized onions (right, in photo)
     Inspired by The Six Weeker at Stout, Los Angeles

3.  Organic free-range egg, aged white cheddar and sweet chili sauce
     Inspired by The Sunny Side at Roam Artisan Burgers, San Francisco

4.  Prosciutto, red-onion marmalade and brie
     Inspired by The Mustang Sally at Burger and Beer Joint, Miami