Ease of preparation rating: Easy
Yield: 8 burgers
INGREDIENTS:
Homemade Ketchup
1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
1 tablespoon (15 ml) garlic minced
1 medium onion diced
1 (500 ml) can or 2 cups (480 ml) diced in puree plum tomatoes
1 teaspoon (5 ml) tomato paste
2/3 cups (160 ml) brown sugar
½ cup (120 ml) apple cider vinegar
1/8 teaspoon (0.5 ml) allspice
1/8 teaspoon (0.5 ml) cloves
Salt and ground black pepper
Garlic Butter
¼ cup (60 ml) butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon (5 ml) minced garlic
1 tablespoon (15 ml) chopped parsley
1 teaspoon (5 ml) chopped chives
1 teaspoon (5 ml) chopped thyme leaves
Salt and ground black pepper
2 ½ pounds (1.2 kg) medium ground beef
Salt and ground black pepper
¼ cup (60 ml) soft blue cheese
1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil + more for grill
To serve
8 large sesame or onion buns
Homemade ketchup
Other desired toppings
METHOD:
To prepare the ketchup, place a saucepan over medium heat and add olive oil. Heat oil for 30 seconds, add garlic and onion. Sauté until translucent.
Add the plum tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, cider vinegar, allspice, cloves, salt, and ground black pepper. Cook for 30-40 minutes until slightly thickened and desired taste is achieved.
Remove from heat and cool. Puree until smooth if desired (or serve chunky). Chill in refrigerator.
For the garlic butter, cream together butter, garlic, chopped parsley, chives, thyme, salt, and ground black pepper. Chill in refrigerator.
In a bowl combine the ground beef with salt and ground black pepper. Using your hands, form into 8 balls. Using a finger, press a hole into the middle of each ball of beef.
Fill half the balls with tablespoon of chilled garlic butter each and the other half with a tablespoon of blue cheese each. Roll each ball to enclose filling in the middle and form into patties.
Chill patties in refrigerator before grilling to firm up.
Prepare the barbeque for direct grilling at high heat, 400-500 F (205-260 C). You need to start with the hottest grill possible to cook hamburgers without the filling oozing out.
Season the hamburgers with salt and ground black pepper and drizzle evenly with oil. Brush the grill with oil. Place the burgers on the grill. Turn the heat down to medium-high 375 -400 F (190-205 C).
Cook for approximately 6 minutes or until dark golden char marks appear. Don’t press down with a spatula, you will only squeeze out the juice and flavor.
Make sure the patties can be easily lifted off the grill before flipping to cook for another 6 –7 minutes.
Remove from grill and tent under foil for 5 minutes before serving on buns with Homemade Ketchup and other desired toppings.
Note: Cooking times and temperatures will vary depending on the size and type of your barbeque.
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