California Avocado BLT Burgers with Caramelized Chipotle Onions

By á-1669

Ingredients

• Caramelized Chipotle Onions:
• 1 large sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 T. spicy chipotle pepper sauce (recommended: Tabasco Chipotle Pepper sauce)
• 1 T. beef broth
• 1 T. balsamic vinegar
• 1 T. vegetable oil or olive oil
• 1 T crushed fresh garlic
• 1 T dark brown sugar
• Point Reyes Blue Cheese Spread:
• 6 1/2 oz. light garlic-and herbs spreadable cheese
• 4 oz. blue cheese (recommended: Point Reyes) or other favorite blue cheese, crumbled
• Burgers:
• 1 lb. ground chuck
• 1 lb. ground sirloin
• 1/3 c. minced sweet onion
• 1/4 c. zinfandel wine (recommended: Sutter Home Zinfandel
• 3 T. minced fresh oregano, thyme, and basil leaves
• 1 T. spicy chipotle pepper sauce (recommended: Tabasco Chipotle Pepper sauce)
• 1 1/2 t. spicy seasoned salt
• vegetable oil, for brushing grill rack
• 12 california avacado slices (prepare at the last minute, brushing with bqalsamic vinegar and sprinkling with spicy seasoned salt before grilling
• 12 pre-cooked bacon slices
• 6 soft kaiser rolls (about 4 1/2 inches in diameter), split
• romaine lettuce leaves
• 6 large tomato slices, about 1/4 in. thick

Preparation

Step 1

1. In a grill with a cover, prepare a medium-hot fire for direct-heat cooking.
2. For carmelized onions, combine onion, pepper sauce, broth, vinegar, oil, garlic, and brown sugar in a 10-in. nonstick skillet with a lid. When coals are ready, place covered pan on grill rack. Cook onion mixture for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramelized and most of liquid is evaporated. Remove pan from grill and set aside.
3. For burgers, place ground beef in large bowl. Add onion, zinfandel, herbs, pepper sauce and seasoned salt, mix gently. Shape into 6 round patties.
4. Meanwhile, place saucepan with cheese spread on outer edge of grill rack to warm cheese mixture just until it reaches a very soft, spreading consistency. Remove saucepan from grill and set aside.
5. During final minuts of grilling patties, arrange avacado sliced on a rimmed nonstick grilling pan coated lightly with oil and grill alongside patties for 1-2 minutes, turning as necessary. During final 30 seconds, add bacon slices to pan. When avocados are nicely grilled and bacon is crisp, remove from grill. When patties are cooked, remove from grill, stacking to keep warm. Place rolls, cut side down on outer edges of grill to toast lightly.
6. To assemble burgers, spread a generous amount of cheese spread over cut sides of rolls. On the bottom of each roll layer lettuce, a tomato slice, beef patty, carmelized onions, grilled avocado, and bacon. Add top and serve.