Pecan And Mushroom Burger With Blue Cheese Sauce Food

PECAN AND MUSHROOM BURGER WITH BLUE CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine yogurt, blue cheese, chives (if using) and dressing in a small bowl and blend with a fork to make a chunky sauce. Refrigerate it while you make the burgers; it will keep for up to 2 days.
• Place bulgur and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Pour the boiling water over, cover and set aside until the water is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Drain in a sieve, pressing out excess liquid.
• Meanwhile, spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and turn on stove to medium heat. Add mushrooms, onion and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring, until the vegetables are softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in vinegar and garlic. Immediately transfer the mixture to a plate and let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Combine the vegetable mixture in a food processor; pulse briefly until coarsely chopped. Add egg; pulse briefly, scraping down the sides if necessary, until the mixture is cohesive but roughly textured. Transfer to a bowl; stir in bulgur, breadcrumbs, pecans Italian seasoning and pepper. Mix well.
• With dampened hands, form the mixture into eight 1/2-inch-thick patties, using about 1/2 cup for each. (I made mine into 13 mini burgers using a slider station).
• Place burgers on a cookie sheet (coated with cooking spray) and place under a broiler on high. Mine took 8 minutes to crisp ever so slightly and to become heated through. You can also cook them in a frying pan for 4 minutes per side (mine fell apart doing this though, that's why I put the rest of them under the broiler).
• Garnish the burgers with watercress and the blue cheese sauce, if desired.

ROASTED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM BURGERS WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Lay the mushrooms on a greased baking sheet, gill sides up. Whisk together the garlic, sherry, 2 tablespoons of the oil and 2 teaspoons of the salt. Pour the mixture over the mushrooms. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
• 2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Divide the cheese evenly among the mushroom caps. Roast until the mushrooms are fork-tender and the cheese is melted, 15 to 20 minutes. Reserve any cooking juices in the pan.
• 3. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the onions and cook until charred and tender, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add the spinach and the cooking juices from the mushrooms. Cook until just the spinach is wilted. Season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• 4. Place the mushrooms on the buns and top with the spinach and onions.

MUSHROOM PECAN BURGERS

Steps:

• In a food processor, mince mushrooms and parsley. Remove and set aside.
• In a sauté pan over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil and cook onions and garlic for 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer onion mixture to a large-size bowl, and combine with minced mushrooms and parsley, bread crumbs, tahini, hoisin sauce, chopped nuts, tamari, oregano, sage, salt, and pepper.
• Place mixture in refrigerator for at least half an hour. Mixture will be soft, but you should be able to form patties. Add additional bread crumbs or tahini, if needed.
• Create patties using your hands. In a sauté pan, warm remaining 1 tablespoon (15 ml) oil, and fry patties over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, until lightly browned and crispy. Be careful to keep patties intact.

BLUE CHEESE & HORSERADISH HAMBURGER SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix together all ingredients in a small bowl.
• Spoon over grilled burgers, or use as a dipping sauce.
• Makes enough to spoon over 4 burgers.

BUFFALO SAUCE BURGERS STUFFED WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Melt butter and whisk in hot sauce.
• Mix blue cheese and garlic in a small bowl.
• Using your hands, gently mix beef (or buffalo), celery seed, onion and 1/4 cup hot sauce mixture in a medium bowl until blended. Form into 12 patties, using a light touch; the patties should be about 4 1/2 inches in diameter and no more than 1/2 inch thick.
• Spoon about 2 teaspoons of cheese-garlic mixture in center of 6 patties, then top with remaining patties and press together, sealing edges.
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to grill. (Even if you aren't making these ahead of time, I think they hold together better after a little chill time).
• Heat grill to medium and oil grate.
• Grill burgers about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until cooked to taste. (I'll only eat ground beef cooked well, so I cooked a bit longer.) Brush with remaining hot sauce mixture during last 2 minutes of cooking. Toast buns if you like.
• (I couldn't think of many traditional condiments I wanted on this burger, so I just ate mine with extra buffalo sauce and lettuce).