BUFFALO BURGERS w/PICKLED ONIONS

By BobD

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

Details

Servings 4
Adapted from gourmet.com

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.