Wapsi Sweet Corn Burger

Pairs well with:

Cabernet Sauvignon

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

As a farm girl growing up in Iowa in the 50’s, everyone looked forward to the sweet corn season. Today, Iowa’s fresh sweet corn is still a big hit and in great demand at the local farmers’ markets. The Wapsipinicon River (known locally as the Wapsi) runs through Iowa prime farm land and is 12 miles from my home. I have combined fresh sweet corn made into a relish, bleu cheese (Iowa’s Maytag), and good, locally grown, all beef patties into a mouth watering specialty that emphasizes all the great tastes of Iowa and the Midwest.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 # ground beef (80/20)
Salt and pepper as needed
3 oz. bleu cheese crumbles
1 each medium sweet onion, sliced
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. butter
6 each Kaiser rolls, 4 inch
1 recipe SWEET CORN RELISH
5 ears fresh sweet corn
1/4 cup red pepper, chopped
1/4 cup green pepper, chopped
1/4 cup sweet onion, chopped
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. canning/pickling salt
1 tsp. mustard seed
1/4 tsp. celery seed
1/8 tsp. ground turmeric
3/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 recipe ROASTED GARLIC AIOLI
1 cup good quality mayonnaise
1 tsp. roasted garlic paste
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:

1. On medium hot grill, saute sweet onion in 1 Tbsp. olive oil and 1 Tbsp. butter until it caramelizes. Set aside.
2. Make Sweet Corn Relish: Husk and desilk corn. Boil in hot water for 5 minuts. Cool in cold water. Cut kernels off cobs and measure. Should be about 2 cups. Combine all ingredients listed directly under Sweet Corn Relish in a 2 quart stainless steel pan. Put on grill set about 350 degrees F. for 20 minutes. Remove from grill and let cool in pan.
3. Make Roasted Garlilc Aioli: Combine roasted garlic paste and extra virgin olive oil with mayonnaise and mix thoroughly. Set aside in refrigerator or place on ice.
4. Form 12 – 2oz. hamburgers by hand and set on baking sheet. Salt and pepper as needed. On half of meat patties, place 1/2 ounce bleu cheese crumbles. Divide the caramelized onions into 6 portions and place on top of the bleu cheese. Top with remaining 6 meat patties and lightly pat together.
5. Grill the hamburger patties on a medium hot grill (350 degrees F.) for 6 – 8 minutes, turning once. Internal temperature should be 160 degrees F. or grill to your desired doneness.
6. While burgers are on grill, lightly brush olive oil on each side of Kaiser roll and lightly grill.
7. Remove rolls. Top each bottom of rolls with a hamburger patty. Add a tablespoon or more of the Roasted Garlic Aioli. Using a slotted spoon, drain the liquid from the Sweet Corn Relish and place on top of the aioli. Top with upper part of Kaiser roll. Enjoy!!