Sliders, 2 Ways
Unless it’s dessert, never order anything on a restaurant menu with the word “mini” in it. Sounds counterintuitive, but so-called mini bites come with maximum fat saturation. These tasty burger bites, however, deliver huge flavor for a truly mini caloric price tag.
- 4
Ingredients
- Mushroom-Blue Cheese Sliders (#1):
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 lb ground sirloin
- 2 Tbsp steak sauce
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 4 small soft rolls about 2” in diameter (Martin’s mini potato rolls are perfect for the job)
- Chipotle-Bacon Sliders (#2):
- 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp chipotle pepper
- 1/2 lb ground sirloin
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 oz shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- 4 small rolls, about 2” in diameter (Martin’s mini potato again)
- 4 strips cook bacon
- Caramelized Onions (search recipes)
Preparation
Step 1
(Recipe #1):
Heat a cast iron skillet or saute pan over medium heat. Add the oil and garlic and saute for 60 seconds, until fragrant but not brown. Add the mushrooms and saute for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mushrooms are nicely caramelized. Season with salt and pepper.
Heat a grill pan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Season the sirloin with salt and pepper; form into 4 patties, being careful not to overwork the meat (which will create dense, chewy patties). Brush each patty with steak sauce. When the pan is hot, add the burgers and cook for 3 minutes on the first side then flip. Add the blue cheese crumbles to the cooked side and continue grilling for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the patties are firm and the cheese has begun to melt.
Remove the burgers. While the pan is hot, toast the rolls. Brush them with a bit more steak sauce is you like, then top each with a burger and mushrooms.
Recipe #2:
Mix the mayo and chipotle pepper. Prepare and cook the burgers as described in the previous recipe, omitting the steak sauce and subbing Cheddar for the blue cheese. Spread the rolls with a bit of the mayo mixture, then top with the burgers, bacon and caramelized onions.