Friday, March 22, 2013

Burger and Fries Friday: Bruschetta Burgers


It's spring! Yay! And also: HA. The joke is on us, because it was 19 degrees outside this morning. It was so cold, in fact, that my digital temperature display simple read: ICE. I think it, too, has just given up and decided to go into hibernation until warmer temperatures finally arrive.


It may still feel like winter outside where I live, but the fact is that it is spring, so I'm craving all kinds of spring and summer favorites -- one of which is bruschetta. Man, I love bruschetta. When I saw this idea for a burger, I couldn't believe I'd never thought of it before. Fresh, flavorful bruschetta, piled atop a cheeseburger. Betstill my heart.

I used my friend W's recipe for brushcetta, because her recipe is what I always use. It's just the best. I topped the burgers with provolone cheese, a generous pile of the bruschetta, and a smear of balsamic-infused mayonnaise, and put the whole business on a bun that I broiled like garlic bread. Ohhh yeah. That's really all I can say.

Bruschetta Burgers
inspired by Cookies and Cups

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (more to taste, if desired)

6 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup basil, sliced into a chiffonade
1/4 cup finely-shredded asiago cheese
1 tablespoon grated onion
1 garlic clove, finely grated
Salt and pepper to taste
Extra-virgin olive oil (I usually use a couple of tablespoons)

4 hamburger burger patties
Salt and pepper to taste
4 slices provolone cheese

4 sandwich buns
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
Pinch each of salt and pepper

1. Combine the mayonnaise and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl; refrigerate until serving.

2. Combine tomatoes, basil, asiago, onion, garlic, salt and pepper, and olive oil in another small bowl; cover and refrigerate until serving.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season burger patties with salt and pepper and cook, turning once, until desired doneness. Top each patty with a slice of cheese and remove from heat.

4. Combine butter, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Spread evenly over each bun half and place buttered-side-up on a baking sheet. Broil until browned and fragrant.

5. Serve the hamburgers on the garlic bread buns, topped with a generous pile of bruschetta and a slather of the balsamic mayonnaise.

3 comments:

Katie said...

We've have been without a grill since last Spring and splurged with our tax refund and got the mother of all grills a month ago. I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am to make this burger...I LOVE bruschetta.

Chrisor said...

Looking through your recipes on your blog and my mouth is watering. EVERYTHING sounds and LOOKS fabulous! You are my new favorite food blog. :-)

Sarah - The Home Cook said...

OMG, I can't even talk about this my mouth is watering so much. I've made something similar to this before but I love the garlic bread bun. Drool. Can't wait to make this soon.