Gorgeous Hoppin Jalapeno Gorgonzola Burgers

Austin, Texas is a hopping and exciting place to live that has simplicity, sophistication and uniqueness all rolled into one gorgeous city.This burger with its mixture of gorgonzola cheese and jalapenos exemplifies the heat and the eclectic palate of Austin, Texas. When you take the first bite of this burger your eyes open with excitement and you can hardly describe the wonderment that is taking place in your mouth. You have to tell your friends about this burger. Just like Austin, Texas, one visit is not enough!

Ingredients:

TOPPINGS:
1 – Heirloom Tomato, sliced into 6 slices
3 cups – Mixed Field Greens
1/3 cup – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/3 cup – Balsamic Vinegar
Salt and Pepper, to taste
SEASONING MIXTURE:
1 Tbs – Salt
1 tsp – Onion Powder
1 tsp – Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp – Cumin
1/2 tsp – Black pepper
GORGONZOLA MIXTURE:
2 – Jalapenos, seeded and diced
1/2 lb – Gorgonzola Cheese, coarsely grated
1 tsp – Seasoning Mixture (see above)
MEAT:
3 lbs – Ground beef – 85% Lean
1 Tbs – Seasoning Mixture (see above)
BUNS:
Focaccia Bread – Sliced into three inch square buns
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Instructions:

Preparation and Cooking:

Preparation Time – 40 minutes
Cook Time – 10 minutes

Topping Mixture:
Mix the balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil together. Marinate the Heirloom tomato slices in 1/3 cup of oil and vinegar mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Toss the field greens with the remaining oil and vinegar mixture just as the hamburger patties are finished cooking. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Gorgonzola Mixture:
Mix cheese, jalapenos and seasoning mixture in a small bowl.

Hamburger meat preparation:
Combine seasoning mixture and hamburger meat and divide into 12 quarter pound patties. Place 1/6 of the gorgonzola mixture on six of the meat patties. Place the remaining six patties on top of each of the prepared gorgonzola patties. Press the edges of each patty to seal and form the final shape of the hamburger patties.

Preheat gas grill to 375-400 degrees. Cook each hamburger patty for approximately five minutes on each side or until done on gas grill.

Bun preparation and heating directions:
Slice focaccia bread into three inch squares, slicing again horizontally to form a “bun”. Lightly brush the inside of each bun with olive oil. Place the buns on the top rack of the grill to warm during the last minute of cooking the burgers.

Creating the burger:
Place the hamburger patty on the bottom bun. Add a slice of the marinated heirloom tomato to each patty. Add 1/2 cup of the field green mixture on top of the tomato on each burger. Place the top bun on each to complete the final burger.