BLOODY MARIA WITH MINI SLIDER GARNISH

Bloody Maria with Mini Slider Garnish image

Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian

Time 55m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 22

6 ounces tequila
1/2 teaspoon harissa paste
12 ounces tomato juice
2 ounces lime juice
6 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 pinch celery salt
1 tablespoon fresh grated horseradish
1/2 teaspoon yellow onion, grated
Tabasco to taste
Mini Sliders, recipe follows, for garnish
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 teaspoon fresh grated horseradish
1/2 teaspoon finely minced shallot
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces coarsely ground 20 percent fat ground beef
Clarified butter or canola oil
Four 2-inch-wide brioche slider buns, split
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
4 paper-thin slices preserved lemon, seeds removed
4 cornichons
4 wooden skewers

Steps:

In a cocktail shaker, stir together the tequila, harissa paste, tomato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, horseradish, onion and Tabasco. Divide among 4 ice-filled highball glasses. Garnish with Mini Sliders.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Toss the cherry tomatoes with the horseradish, shallot and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Place the tomatoes in a baking dish and roast until they are just wilted, about 5 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature.
Divide the ground beef into 4 even patties slightly wider than the buns (the beef will shrink during cooking); do not overwork the meat, handle it just enough to form the patties. Season the patties liberally with salt and pepper on both sides.
Heat a griddle or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Place a small amount of clarified butter or canola oil into the pan or griddle, and sear the burgers on both sides until charred. Transfer burgers to the oven and cook until they reach your desired temperature, about 4 minutes for medium rare.
Allow the burgers to rest for 5 minutes. In the same pan, toast the buns until golden brown. Brush one side of the buns with mustard, and place the patties on the buns. Top with slices of preserved lemon, followed by the tomatoes. Cover with the bun tops and skewer one cornichon on a wooden skewer and use it to secure the slider. Serve warm.