ROPA VIEJA BURGERS

Ropa Vieja Burgers image

Provided by Aaron May

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 large onions, chopped
2 red bell peppers, chopped
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon minced garlic
3 cups canned crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons seafood boil seasoning, such as Old Bay
2 pounds ground beef
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 slices muenster cheese
4 Kaiser rolls or artisan hamburger buns, split
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 cup fried onions (canned is fine)

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
Add 1 tablespoon of the butter, chopped onions and bell pepper to an 8-quart saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until the tomato paste is toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and crushed tomatoes and stir well. Add the hot sauce, lemon juice and seafood boil seasoning. Cook until the vegetables are tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Scoop up the onions and bell peppers with a slotted spoon and keep warm. Let the sauce cool.
Meanwhile, heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Divide into 4 equal patties and transfer to the skillet. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and flip the patties. Top each patty with 2 slices of cheese and bake just until the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat a cast-iron griddle over medium heat until hot. Gently toast the buns split-sides down just until they brown slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.
Combine the mayonnaise and up to 2 tablespoons of the cooled sauce in a small bowl and stir well. Slather 1/2 tablespoon on each of the split sides of the buns.
Spoon the onion and peppers onto the bottom buns then top each with a burger patty.
Top each burger with 1 tablespoon of the fried onions. Close the burgers and serve hot.