Cabernet-Balsamic Burgers with Sautéed Mushrooms & Onions

By CarolineNGa

Grilled cheeseburgers get an irresistible upgrade with creamy blue cheese and caramelized onions spiked with jammy red wine and tart-sweet vinegar. A portion of the tender onions are mixed into the patties to help keep the lean beef moist.

David Bonom, Cooking Light

JUNE 2012

Ingredients

• 5 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• 4 cups thinly sliced red onion
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 1/2 cup cabernet sauvignon or other dry red wine
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 (8-ounce) package sliced mushrooms
• 1 1/2 pounds ground sirloin
• Cooking spray
• 1/3 cup light mayonnaise
• 1 ounce blue cheese, crumbled (about 1/4 cup)
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 6 (1 1/2-ounce) whole-wheat hamburger buns
• 1 1/2 cups baby arugula

Details

Servings 6
Adapted from myrecipes.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add 2 teaspoons olive oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion and thyme; cook 17 minutes or until golden and very tender, stirring occasionally. Increase the heat to medium-high; add wine, vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook for 6 minutes or until the liquid almost evaporates, stirring occasionally. Remove onion mixture from pan.

2. Wipe pan clean with paper towels. Heat pan over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 3 teaspoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add mushrooms and 1/4 teaspoon salt; sauté for 8 minutes or until mushrooms brown and liquid mostly evaporates.

3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

4. Coarsely chop 1 cup onion mixture, and stir chopped onion mixture into beef. Divide the beef mixture into 6 equal portions, gently shaping each into a 1-inch-thick patty. Press a nickel-sized indentation in center of each patty. Sprinkle the patties with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Place patties on a grill rack coated with cooking spray, and grill for 4 minutes on each side or until done.

5. Combine mayonnaise, blue cheese, and garlic in a bowl, and mash well with a fork. Spread the top halves of buns evenly with mayonnaise mixture. Arrange 1/4 cup arugula on bottom half of each bun; top each bottom half of bun with 1 patty, about 2 tablespoons remaining onion mixture, about 1/4 cup mushrooms, and top half of bun.

Nutritional Information:
Amount per serving
Calories: 395
Fat: 17.1g
Saturated fat: 4.6g
Monounsaturated fat: 6.8g
Polyunsaturated fat: 4.3g
Protein: 29.2g
Carbohydrate: 33g
Fiber: 5g
Cholesterol: 69mg
Iron: 3.4mg
Sodium: 756mg
Calcium: 106mg