Gourmet Bacon-Mushroom Cheeseburger
Description
Mild elephant garlic adds a sweet flavor to these juicy, gourmet burgers, topped with hickory-smoked bacon, cheese, and shiitake mushrooms.
Ingredients
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1 large white onion, coarsely chopped
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1 large red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
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1 medium green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
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2 cloves elephant garlic, chopped
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4 ounces white Cheddar cheese
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1 ounce Asiago cheese
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2 pounds lean ground beef (90%)
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1 teaspoon sea salt
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1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
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16 slices hickory-smoked bacon
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1 (8 ounce) package shiitake mushrooms, sliced
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8 slices American cheese
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8 Kaiser rolls, split
Directions
1
Combine onion, bell peppers, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until finely chopped but not quite pureed.
2
Transfer onion mixture to a saute pan over medium heat; cook until reduced to a moist paste, about 20 minutes. When done, set aside to cool.
3
Grate Cheddar and Asiago cheeses into a bowl using the finest teeth of a box grater.
4
Place ground beef in a large mixing bowl. Add onion mixture and salt; mix thoroughly by hand until evenly combined. Add grated cheese mixture, a bit at a time, and mix until thoroughly combined. Add panko and mix until evenly distributed. Form into 8 balls and press into patties, using a hamburger maker if you have one. Wrap patties in waxed paper and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.
5
Remove burgers from the refrigerator. Preheat an outdoor grill for 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and lightly oil the grate.
6
While the grill is preheating, cook bacon in a large skillet and over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels.
7
Drain all but 1 tablespoon bacon grease from the skillet and add mushrooms. Saute over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
8
Cook burgers on the preheated grill until no longer pink in the center, about 6 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). During the last few minutes of cooling, add 2 slices bacon and 1 slice American cheese to each burger.
9
Remove burgers from the grill. Place on Kaiser rolls and add mushrooms.