- 4
Ingredients
- 4 SERVINGS
- BUFFALO BURGERS WITH PICKLED ONIONS AND SMOKY RED PEPPER SAUCE
- FOR SAUCE
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk dressing
- 1 small garlic clove, chopped
- Rounded 1/4 teaspoon hot Spanish smoked paprika*
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- FOR PICKLED ONIONS
- 2 small red onions (1/2 lb total)
- 1/2 cup cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- FOR BURGERS
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lb ground buffalo**, formed into 4 (1/2-inch-thick) patties
- 4 English muffins, split in half
- SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: about 20 wooden picks
Preparation
Step 1
MAKE SAUCE:
Peel, seed & coarsely chop peppers and puree in a blender with dressing, garlic, paprika, and salt until smooth, then transfer to a bowl and chill, covered, until ready to serve.
GRILL ONIONS:
Peel onions and trim root ends slightly, leaving onions whole, then halve lengthwise and cut halves lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick wedges.
Insert 1 wooden pick through each wedge to hold layers together while grilling, then put onions in a bowl.
Heat vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small nonreactive heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved.
Pour pickling liquid over onions, stirring occasionally to coat with liquid, and let stand 5 minutes (onions will brighten in color), then drain onions and pat dry.
Prepare grill for cooking.
Grill onions on a lightly oiled grill rack, covered only if using a gas grill, turning over once, until tender, about 5 minutes total. Remove and discard wooden picks.
GRILL BURGERS:
Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of burgers, then grill burgers on lightly oiled grill rack, covered only if using a gas grill, turning over once with a spatula, 5 to 6 minutes total for medium-rare.
Meanwhile, grill English muffins, turning over once with tongs, until toasted, about 3 minutes total.
Serve burgers on muffins topped with sauce and onions.
COOKS NOTE:
If you aren't able to grill outdoors, you can use a hot well-seasoned ridged grill pan. Grill onions first, then burgers, then muffins, all over moderately high heat. (Burgers may take 1 minute longer than if cooked outdoors.) Lower heat during cooking as necessary.
*Available at specialty foods shops and Tienda.com.
**Available at Whole Foods stores.