PW's Favorite Burger (for now)

It has been burger mania up in here.  I know everyone has been saying it...but this summer has been the hottest summer I have experienced in a long time.  I don't ever remember having to use such extreme measures to avoid heating up the house.  The extreme measures being using the grill or not "cooking" food. 

And not wanting to use the dishwasher or dryer.  

And I have been taking cold showers so that the hot water doesn't heat up the house.  Or me.  

It is just weird.  Especially for Boulder.  

The good news is I have gotten to try out so many great burger recipes.  This one from Pioneer Woman is one that I have had saved for a long time.  Remember that magical red onion marmalade?  Well...it is just as amazing on top of a burger.  And with some blue cheese.  Delicious.  Pioneer Woman's recipe doesn't include the addition of balsamic vinegar, but I did add some.  Yum!  Try these for sure.  

PW’s Favorite Burger

by Pioneer Woman with modifications by foodforscot

1 pounds 80/20 Ground Beef

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1/4 teaspoons Black Pepper

Tabasco Sauce, To Taste

2 Tablespoons Butter

1 whole Red Onion, Sliced

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

1/8 cups Real Mayo

Kaiser Rolls

1/2 cup Crumbled Blue Cheese

Your Favorite Lettuce

Next, for the onions, heat a medium skillet over low heat. Add in 2 tablespoons butter. Dump in the sliced (not too thick, not too thin) red onions. Now add 2 generous tablespoons brown sugar. Give it a toss to combine the ingredients, and then allow the onions to caramelize over low heat for about twenty minutes, tossing occasionally.

While the onions are caramelizing, make the spicy mayo: Place mayonnaise into a small bowl and simply add a few dashes of Tabasco. Stir together and test for taste.

Place the ground beef into a medium mixing bowl. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper. Add a few dashes of Tabasco sauce. With your hands, mix the meat and seasoning well. Set aside.

Next, slice the Kaiser rolls in half and spread each half with about 1/2 tablespoon of butter. Place them face down on a grill pan or skillet over medium heat. Lightly grill the rolls so they’ll be tough enough to hold the spicy mayo. Let the rolls cool on a plate until you need them.

Form the meat into four patties and place on a grill pan or skillet over medium to medium-low heat. Allow each to cook about 3 minutes, then using a spatula, rotate 45 degrees, leaving it on the same side. Flip the burger and cook it for a couple of minutes, rotating it 45 degrees again to get the nice grill marks. Now add a large helping of caramelized onions over top of that glorious patty, followed by an equally generous helping of crumbled blue cheese.

As it finishes cooking, spread the spicy mayo on the Kaiser rolls and transfer the burger onto the bottom half of the bun. Top with a handful of greens and top with the bun.

(Servings: 4, Prep time: 10 min., Cook time: 25 min., Difficulty: Easy)

Printable Version