GRILLED AVOCADO BLT BURGER

GRILLED AVOCADO BLT BURGER image

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

1 large sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced, plus 1/3 cup minced sweet onion, divided
2 tablespoons Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce, divided
1 tablespoon beef broth
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, plus more to brush avocado slices
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus more to brush grill rack
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
6 1/2 ounces light garlic-and-herbs spreadable cheese
4 ounces Point Reyes blue cheese or another favorite blue cheese, crumbled
1 pound ground chuck
1 pound ground sirloin
1/4 cup zinfandel wine
3 tablespoons minced fresh oregano, thyme and basil (any combination)
1 1/2 teaspoons spicy seasoned salt, plus more for sprinkling on avocado slices
12 avocado slices
12 precooked bacon slices
6 (4 1/2 -inch) soft kaiser rolls, split
6 romaine lettuce leaves
6 ( 1/4 -inch-thick) large tomato slices

Steps:

To make the spread, combine the cheeses in a fireproof saucepan, cover and set aside. To make the patties, combine chuck, sirloin, minced onion, zinfandel, herbs, remaining 1 tablespoon pepper sauce and seasoned salt in a large bowl. Handling meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Divide mixture into 6 equal portions, and form portions into patties to fit rolls. When grill is ready, brush grill rack with vegetable oil. Place patties on rack, cover, and cook, turning once, until done to preference, 5 to 7 minutes on each side for medium. Meanwhile, place saucepan with cheese spread on outer edge of rack to warm cheese mixture just until it reaches a very soft spreading consistency. Remove saucepan from grill and set aside. During final minutes of grilling patties, brush avocado with vinegar and sprinkle with seasoned salt. Arrange on a rimmed, perforated nonstick grilling pan coated lightly with oil, and grill alongside patties for 1 to 2 minutes, turning as necessary. During final 30 seconds, add precooked bacon 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 rack to toast lightly. To assemble burgers, spread a generous amount of cheese mixture over cut sides of the rolls. On each roll bottom, place a lettuce leaf, a tomato slice, a patty, an equal portion of caramelized onions, 2 avocado slices and 2 bacon slices. Add roll tops, and serve.