Mac and Cheese Burger Sliders

By Cindy

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground sirloin
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce, eyeball it
• A scant handful parsley, very finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or very finely chopped or pasted
• 3 to 4 tablespoons grated onion
• Coarse salt and lots of coarse black pepper
• EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for drizzling
• 1/2 pound small elbow macaroni or ditalini or small elbow whole wheat macaroni
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• A few grates nutmeg
• 1 cup very sharp yellow or white cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup Gruyere or Swiss cheese
• 1/4 cup, about a handful, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• Ketchup, for topping (optional)
• Bacon-Tomato Jam, for topping (optional)
• 12 slider-size burger buns or split brioche rolls
• Toothpicks

Details

Servings 6

Preparation

Step 1

Combine meat with Worcestershire, parsley, garlic, onion -- grate directly over bowl to catch juices -- some salt and lots of pepper. Form 8 3-ounce patties, making them thinner at center and thicker at edges for even cooking. Drizzle patties with EVOO.
Heat a cast-iron skillet or large griddle pan over medium-high heat.
Meanwhile, boil a medium pot of water and add salt. Undercook pasta by a minute or so from package directions – just shy of al dente. Drain and reserve.
While pasta cooks, melt butter in a small pot over medium heat, sprinkle in flour and whisk 30 seconds. Whisk in milk and season sauce with salt, pepper and a little nutmeg. Melt cheese into sauce to combine then turn off heat, stir in Dijon. Fold in reserved macaroni.

Cook meat patties in the hot skillet for 3 minutes on each side for medium. Serve on buns or rolls topped with some mac and cheese and a dot of ketchup or some Bacon-Tomato Jam (follows), if you wish. Secure bun or roll tops with toothpicks and anchor a slice of pickle atop the burgers for a cheeky presentation.


Bacon-Tomato Jam
Ingredients
1/2 pound bacon, chopped small
1 small onion, diced small
3 cloves garlic, chopped or grated
Ground black pepper
A pinch of hot pepper flakes
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
Yields: Makes 1/2 cup

Preparation
In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook bacon about 5 minutes, until slightly crispy but not all the way done. Add onions and garlic, and cook another 5 minutes. Mix in the pepper, pepper flakes, vinegar, maple syrup, brown sugar and ketchup. Mix together and cook about a minute to let it all come together. Serve on Mac and Cheese Burger Sliders.