OPEN-FACED CHILI BURGERS ON GRILLED PORTOBELLO "BUNS" WITH SMOKED CHEESE

Open-Faced Chili Burgers on Grilled Portobello

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Time 35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 27

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Ingredients

4 portobello mushroom caps
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, eyeball the amount
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, a splash
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it, plus extra for drizzling
1 1/2 pounds ground sirloin
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons dark chili powder, a palm full
1 tablespoon steak seasoning blend (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick)
8 ounces smoked white cheddar (recommended: Cabot brand) or smoked gouda, sliced
2 roasted red peppers, drained, available in salad bar and deli sections of market in bulk or in jars
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves or flat-leaf parsley
Macho Gazpacho Vegetable Chunk Salad, recipe follows
1/2 seedless cucumber, also known as English cucumber
2 vine ripe tomatoes, seeded
1 green bell pepper, seeded
1/2 red onion, peeled
4 ribs celery from the heart, including leafy tops
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves or flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 lime or 1/2 lemon, juiced
1 to 2 teaspoons hot sauce, for mild to medium-hot heat level (recommended: Tabasco)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball the amount
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

Preheat grill pan or large nonstick griddle pan over medium high to high heat. Brush mushroom caps with damp towel to clean them. Scrape away gills with a spoon. Combine Worcestershire sauce with balsamic vinegar, then whisk in 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Brush mushrooms with dressing. Grill mushrooms on hot grill pan or griddle for 3 or 4 minutes on each side, until tender. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
Combine meat in a bowl with onion, garlic, jalapeno, tomato paste, chili powder and steak seasoning blend. Form meat into 4 large (1 1/2 inch-thick) patties. Grill meat 4 to 7 minutes on each side for medium-rare to well done burgers. Melt cheese over burgers during the last minute or 2 the meat is on the grill. A loose foil tent will help the cheese melt quicker.
While the meat cooks, grind the roasted red peppers in a food processor with cilantro or parsley.
To assemble, place a portobello cap-side-down on a plate and spread a spoonful or 2 of the ground roasted red peppers into the cavity. Top with a chili-smoked cheese burger and serve. Macho Gazpacho Chunk Vegetable Salad makes a great side dish.
Cut cucumber, tomatoes, pepper, onion and celery into bite-sized chunks. Combine vegetable in a bowl. Sprinkle cilantro or parsley over the vegetables. Combine vinegar, lime or lemon juice and hot sauce in a small bowl. Whisk in extra-virgin olive oil in a slow stream. Pour dressing down over the salad and toss. Season salad with salt and pepper and serve.