Spicy Smokehouse BBQ Burgers with Herb Cheese Spread

Pairs well with:

White Zinfandel

With strawberry and melon essences, this American original is perfectly at home with however you like to unwind.

Ingredients

1 1/2 Pounds Ground Beef (85% lean works best)
1/4 Cup Finely Minced White Onion
2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
1/2 Tablespoon Freshly Ground Peppercorn Medley
1 Tablespoon Fresh Garlic, very finely minced
1 Teaspoon Dried, Crushed Red Pepper
3 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 Cup Original BBQ
Sauce Vegetable Oil (to brush the grill rack)
4 Tablespoons Butter, softened
6 Kaiser Rolls, sliced
1/4 Cup Original BBQ Sauce
6 Slices Cheddar Cheese, bun sized
6 Tablespoons  Herb Cheese Spread
1/4 Cup Diced Red Onion
6 Green Leaf Lettuce Leaves, washed
6 Slices (1/4-inch thick) Red, Ripe Tomato

 

Instructions

Crumble the beef in a medium bowl, sprinkle evenly over the beef, the minced onion, Kosher salt, freshly ground peppercorn medley, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper, toss lightly to combine remaining careful not to compress the beef. Add the Worcestershire sauce and 1/4 cup BBQ sauce and combine thoroughly. Form the beef mixture into six even mounds. Form each mound into a patty using your hands or a hamburger press/form. Heat the grill to medium-high and brush the grill rack with vegetable oil to help keep burgers from sticking. Place beef patties on the grill rack, slightly away from the hottest portion of the grill. Cook patties for 4-6 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature is 160 degrees Fahrenheit. While Burgers are cooking, spread the softened butter evenly on the tops and bottoms of each Kaiser roll. When the burgers are done, brush each with the equal amounts of the remaining 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce and stack the burgers on the side of the grill to keep warm. Arrange buns, butter side down on the grill rack to toast slightly. When buns are toaster, remove buns and burgers. Assemble each burger by placing one slice of cheddar on the bottom bun and spread each Kaiser roll top with 1 Tablespoon of the herb cheese spread. Place one burger on each Kaiser roll bottom. Sprinkle the diced onion evenly over all six burgers; top each burger with 1 leaf of the green leaf lettuce, and one slice of tomato. Place the roll top on each burger and serve.