Let The Good Time Burgers Roll

Having lived in New Orleans for twenty years, and savoring the Creole jambalaya and gumbo, we also came to relish the Italian muffaletta sandwich.With provolone cheese, salami, olive salad and olive oil, it was molto bene. My Burgers pay homage to New Orleans and the muffaletta. I just added a touch or two of my own.

Ingredients:

Patties:
2 pounds chuck
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper, ground
1 cup red onion, minced
1/4 cup Sutter Home Zinfandel Wine

Avocado-Olive Spread:
2 California avocdos, ripe and seeded
1 – 4.25 oz. can black olives, chopped
1/3 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup green onions, minced
2/3 teaspoon salt
1/3 teaspoon cayenne (red) pepper
2 tablespoons Colavita Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

3 tablespoons vegetable oil to brush on the grill
12 slices – Provolone cheese, smoked
6 – 5″ Kaiser wheat rolls, split
18 slices Genoa salami (thinly sliced)

Instructions:

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.

To make the Patties: combine the chuck, salt, pepper, onion and wine in a large bowl. Handling as little as possible shape into 6 patties to fit the roll size. Loosely cover with aluminum foil and set aside.

To make the Spread: scoop out the avocados into a medium-sized bowl. Mash with a fork until almost smooth. Add the olives, celery, onions, garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil and mix until incorporated. Loosely cover with aluminum foil and set aside.

Grilling the Patties: brush the grill rack with the vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and grill for 5-7 minutes. Turn the patties. Continue grilling for 4 minutes. Place 2 slices of cheese on top of each patty and put the rolls, cut sides down, on the grill perimeters. Grill until the cheese has begun to melt and the rolls are nicely toasted – about 2 minutes. Remove from the grill to two separate platters.

To assemble the Burgers: divide the Spread evenly on all cut sides of the rolls. Place 3 slices of salami on top of the spread on the roll bottoms. Add the patty, and cover with the roll top. Skewer, if desired, and serve.