Cream Cheese Filled Hot Cocoa Burger with Garlic-Clove Mozzarella

Pairs well with:

White Zinfandel

With strawberry and melon essences, this American original is perfectly at home with however you like to unwind.

Ingredients

Cheese for Topping:
1/2 cup Sutter Home Red
1 lb. soft, moisture packed Mozzarella cheese
2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 cloves garlic, cleaned and finely chopped
Cheese Filling:
8 oz. Cream Cheese ~ softened
1/4 cup finely chopped cinnamon-basil
1/4 t ground cloves
Patties:
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 t red pepper flakes
1/2 t cocoa
1 1/2 lb. ground chuck
1 ½ t ground sea salt
1 t ground white pepper
Vegetable Oil to brush grill
1 stick softened butter
6 Large Kaiser Rolls

 

Instructions

Directions: Preheat gas grill to medium high. Pour wine in 9" shallow pan. Slice cheese into 6 slices, ¼" (or slightly thicker) and place in wine. Heat olive oil in oven proof skillet and sauté garlic until tender and fragrant. Remove from heat. Spoon the garlic evenly on to each cheese slice and set aside. Reduce grill heat to medium. Place softened cream cheese into small bowl. Chop cinnamon-basil and add to cream cheese. Add ground cloves to cream cheese. Gently blend and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine applesauce, red pepper flakes, and cocoa. Mix well. In a large bowl, place ground chuck, salt and pepper. Add applesauce mixture to ground chuck and gently blend together. Form into 12 thin patties. Lay 6 of the patties on a flat surface. Spoon 1 1/2 to 2 T of the cream cheese filling into the center of each of the 6 patties. Place the remaining patties on top of each cream cheese patty and pinch edges well to seal patties together. Use vegetable oil to brush grill rack. Put patties on the grill and close lid. Grill until the bottom sides are brown ~ about 5 or 6 minutes. Turn the patties over and continue grilling until done to your preference ~ medium temperature is about 5 more minutes. Carefully place mozzarella cheese slices on burgers, wine side up, during the last 3 to 4 minutes. Spread softened butter sparingly on Kaiser rolls and set on outer edge of grill to toast. Remove burgers from grill and place on platter. Remove buns from grill and place on platter. Place burgers on bun bottoms and set bun top on burger. Serve immediately.