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The Ultimate Gourmet Cheese Hamburgers

Source of Recipe

From "Back Around the Table" by David Venable


Recipe Introduction

"There are cheeseburgers and then there are ultimate cheeseburgers. Like perfect meatballs, these beauties begin with a combination of ground beef, veal, and pork. Veal and pork balance the beef's flavors and keep the burgers from being too dense. Then I take them over the top with a filling of onion, garlic, and three kinds of cheese. Be warned: Your family will never stand for humdrum cheeseburgers again."

List of Ingredients

â—¦ 2 tablespoons canola oil
â—¦ 1 medium Spanish onion, finely chopped
â—¦ 3 cloves garlic, minced
â—¦ 1 pound 80% lean ground beef
â—¦ ½ pound ground veal
â—¦ ½ pound ground pork
â—¦ 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded yellow extra-sharp Cheddar
â—¦ 2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
â—¦ 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
â—¦ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
â—¦ ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
â—¦ ½ cup (2 ounces) shredded whole milk mozzarella
â—¦ 4 kaiser rolls, toasted
â—¦ Boston Bibb lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and sliced red onions


Recipe

Heat the canola oil in a skillet over low heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and let cool.

Put the beef, veal, pork, Cheddar, Parmesan, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Using a slotted spoon, transfer half of the onion-garlic mixture to the bowl, leaving as much of the oil as possible in the skillet. Using your hands, blend the ingredients, but do not overmix.

Combine the mozzarella and the remaining onion-garlic mixture in a separate bowl, again leaving as much oil as possible in the skillet.

Divide the meat mixture into six parts. Roll each into a ball. Using your thumb, make an indentation in the center of each ball and fill it with the mozzarella-onion mixture. Roll each ball to enclose the filling, then flatten the balls into patties about ¾ inch thick. Cover and refrigerate the burgers for 2 to 3 hours before grilling.

About 30 minutes before grilling, preheat the grill to high heat. Grill each burger for 5 to 6 minutes on each side to desired doneness, turning just once. Serve on the toasted kaiser rolls with the traditional burger condiments—lettuce, tomatoes, and red onions.

Makes 6 servings