Brit (ish) Lamb Burger with Welsh Rarebit Cheese Spread and Caramelized Onions

Pairs well with:

Moscato

Paired or alone, there's something magical about this creamy wine that nods to yummy peaches and sinful delights.

Cooking for my English Husband

Ingredients:

Patties

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 medium size yellow onion – finely diced (about 1 ½ cups)

• 1 medium size carrot – finely diced (about ¾ cup)

• 2 pounds ground Lamb

• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

• ½ cup fresh parsley – minced

• 1 tablespoon fresh English thyme

• ½ cup frozen petite green peas (optional)

• ½ cup fresh bread crumbs

Caramelized Onions

• 3 large yellow onions, sliced thin

• 2 Tb butter

• ½ tsp salt

Welsh Rarebit Cheese Spread

• ¾ pound Tillamook extra sharp cheddar cheese – freshly grated (or other good extra sharp cheddar)

• 3 tablespoons Newcastle Brown Ale (or other dark beer such as Guinness)

• 2 teaspoons Colman’s English dry mustard

• 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

• Pinch of salt

Vegetable oil for brushing on grill

6 fluffy potato buns

Instructions:

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.

To make patties:

Melt butter in a grill safe skillet, sauté onions and carrots over medium heat until onions are translucent and carrots are soft. (About 10 min). Spoon into a glass dish and chill. After chilling, combine chilled onions and carrots with ground lamb, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, parsley, thyme, frozen peas and bread crumbs. Mix gently. Form into 6 patties, chill patties until ready to grill.

To make Caramelized Onions

In grill safe skillet melt butter on medium heat, add onions and salt. Cook stirring occasionally until onions are soft and golden brown. Approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside until ready to assemble burger

To make Welsh rarebit cheese spread:

Place grated cheese in bowl of food processor; add beer, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and salt. Process until smooth and creamy, use immediately. (If made ahead, chill in processor bowl; then before using, whirl again to spreading consistency)

Brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once, until done to preference, 4 to 5 minutes on each side for medium. Place buns on grill rack, toast one side only, until golden brown.

To assemble the burgers: apply equal thick portions of rarebit cheese spread on toasted sides of top and bottom bun, add 2 heaping tablespoons of caramelized onions to bottom bun, place burger on onions, then add top bun. Serve immediately..

Makes 6 burgers