Bababacon Burger

Ingredients

Ingredients:
Ground beef chuck and sirloin mix (1/2 pound each)
Sauce:
4 Grilled foccasia bread bun sets (4 X 4 in. squares, sliced in half as you would a bagel, then grilled on all sides)
4 thick sliced tomatoes
4 slices Tillamook medium cheddar cheese
1-½ pound cooked sliced bacon and fat
For Sauce:
3 tbls. Bacon fat
1 tbls. Chopped garlic
2 tbls. Shallots
1tsp. Paprika
1tsp. Thyme
1/8 tsp. Cayenne
1 tsp. Cumin
1 tsp. Chili powder
1tsp. Ground black pepper
1 ½ tbls. Dark brown sugar
1 ½ cup Apple juice
1 ½ tbls. Red wine vinegar
1 ½ tsp. Liquid smoke
½ cup Ketchup
3 tbls. Mayonnaise
For Patties:
1/2 lb. Chuck
1/2 lb. Sirloin
Crumbled bacon
2/3 of prepared sauce without Mayonnaise
1 cup Panko bread crumbs
Oil (for grill)

Instructions

First render out bacon reserving 3 tbls. of the fat and placing 8, 4in. slices to the side. Take remaining bacon and crumble to place with ground beef. In pan over med-low heat, add 3 tbls. bacon fat, garlic, and shallots to sweat. Once achieved, add in paprika, thyme, cayenne, cumin, chili powder and black pepper to toast (about 30 seconds). Add liquid smoke, red wine vinegar, and apple juice to cook for 3 to 5 minutes over med-low heat. Remove from heat and add ketchup. When mixture is cooled, add 2/3 of the mixture to ground beef mixture and add in reserved crumbled bacon. Once combined, add in Panko. Add mayonnaise to remaining sauce mixture and use for spreading on buns. Form beef mixture into 4-ounce patties. Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high. Brush the grill rack with oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and grill 3 to 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare or about 5 minutes for medium. After 3 minutes on the second side add 2 strips of saved bacon onto each burger and place cheese over the bacon then place lid on top of barbecue to melt. Once cooked to desire, place patty in toasted buns with prepared sauce, and tomato slice.