Modernistic Mediterranean Mega Burger

Pairs well with:

Cabernet Sauvignon

This rich red easily complements your homemade chicken dishes, red meats, game, and mildly seasoned pastas.

Ingredients

Roasted Red Peppers and Sun-dried Tomatoes
High Temperature Grill Cooking Spray
2 each Red Bell Peppers
4 TBS Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
18 Each Sun-Dried Tomato Half's (not packed in oil)
Mediterranean Olive Spread
1/3 Cup Mayonnaise
2 TBS Finely Chopped Black Olives (Preferably Kalamata)+ 1 tsp Olive Juice
Mega Burger Patties
2 cup Diced Onion
2 TBS Chopped Garlic
1 TBS Kosher Salt
1 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
1 1/2 Cups Sutter Home Cabernet Sauvignon
2 TBS Chopped Fresh Oregano
2.25# Beef Ground Chuck 20-24%Fa
t 2 TBS Hot and Sweet Pizza & Pasta Magic Seasoning Blend
3 oz Thinly Sliced Manchego Cheese
6 Each Caibatta Style Buns or Kaiser Rolls, Split
2 Cups Chiffande Spinach Leafs

 

Instructions

Directions Preheat a charcoal or gas grill with cover to very hot. Spray grill rack. To prepare roasted peppers and sun-dried tomatoes. Place Bell Peppers in a medium stainless mixing bowl and add 1 TBS Olive oil, toss to coat Peppers well. Place peppers over direct heat as close to coals or gas as possible. Grill peppers 3-4 minutes on each side till the skin is blackened on all sides. Remove peppers back to mixing bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap, let peppers steam in bowl 8-10 minutes to loosen skin from meat of pepper.When cooled enough to handle remove all blacken skin, seeds and stem. Lay peppers out flat on cutting board, trim top and bottom, remove white membrane and cut each pepper into thirds. Place peppers pieces in bowl and add the sun-dried tomatoes.Let marinate in cool place till later. To prepare the Olive spread. Combine mayonnaise, chopped olives and olive juice in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside in cool place. To prepare Modernistic Mediterranean Mega Burger patties. Place cast iron skillet or saute pan with heat proof handle on grill to preheat. When pan is hot add 2 TBS Olive Oil, let oil get hot and add diced onions, cook onions till they start to soften 6-8 minutes stirring occasionally, add chopped garlic and saute an additional 2 minutes. Season onion mixture with 1/2 tsp kosher salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper toss to distribute seasonings. Add Red wine to pan and reduce by 3/4, 8-12 minutes (should be 1 1/2 cups total volume), remove pan from heat, stir in fresh chopped oregano, remove mixture to a bowl and cool. While onions cool, place ground meat in a mixing bowl add seasoning blend, 2 tsp Kosher salt and remaining black pepper then cooled onion mixture. Mix all ingredients together with your hands, only enough to distribute well. Portion Modernistic Mediterranean Mega Burger mix into 6 equal patties (about 6+ ounces each), flatten to just larger than your bun size. Spread charcoal so heat is evenly distributed and is a medium high to high temperature, if using gas grill adjust heat to a medium high to high temperature. Spray rack with cooking spray, place patties on grill and cook at medium high to high about 4-5 minutes(let patties sear well and start to brown). Do not try to move patties to soon or they may fall apart, turn 90* to create diamond grill marks and cook evenly, grill another 4-5 minutes.Flip patty over to other side and repeat the same process till patty is caramelized and cooked to a medium temperature.(lightly pink in the middle) Just before the patty is done season pepper tomato mixture with remaining 1/2 tsp kosher salt, Top patties with 3 sun-dried tomatoes, 1 piece roasted pepper and equal amounts of sliced Cheese. Meanwhile spread remaining 1 TBS Olive oil on cut sides of the Caibatta buns and grill quickly while the cheese melts on the Modernistic Mediterranean Mega Burgers. To assemble the Modernistic Mediterranean Mega Burger spread top and bottom of the toasted buns evenly with the Olive spread, place 1/3 cup chiffanade spinach on the bottom half of each bun, top with the patty that has the pepper, tomato and melted cheese, top it off with toasted bun top and serve fresh and hot. Makes 6 Mega Burgers