Curry Leaf Beef Burgers with Curry Sauce and Grilled Red Onion

Pairs well with:

Zinfandel

Bright and full-bodied, this Zinfandel wine is a curious contradiction in tastes.

Ingredients

1 medium red onion, peeled, ends cut off and cut into quarters
20 curry leaves, stems removed (found at Asian markets or well-stocked grocery stores in the produce section)
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 tablespoons water
3 teaspoons salt
2 pounds ground chuck, about 24% fat content
1 medium red onion, sliced in rings, keeping rings intact for grilling
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 sesame Kaiser rolls, split in half

 

Instructions

Preheat gas grill to high for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to medium high. To make curry sauce, place onion quarters, 5 curry leaves, curry powder, water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in food processor. Cover and process until smooth, set aside. Place 10 additional curry leaves in bottom of large mixing bowl. Add ground chuck and 2 teaspoons of salt and combine with hands, handling the mixture as little as possible to avoid compacting. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions, forming the portions into patties to fit the rolls, set aside on plate. In small pan, place onion slices and spoon over 2 tablespoons olive oil, mixing with hands to coat both sides. Coarsely chop remaining 5 curry leaves, add to pan with onion slices and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper, tossing again with hands. Brush the grill with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place prepared onion slices on side of grill and cook for 6 minutes. Simultaneously, place patties on center of grill and cook for 6 minutes over direct heat with grill top closed. Turn onion slices over with tongs. Turn patties with spatula and grill until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the patties registers 160 degrees F, about 6 minutes longer. During the last 2 minutes of grilling, place the rolls, cut sides down, on outer rim of grill to toast, remove from grill and set aside on plate. Remove onion slices from grill and set aside on bottom of medium-sized pan. Remove patties from grill, place on top of onion slices and let rest for 5 minutes. To assemble burgers, spread the bottom of each roll with half the reserved curry sauce followed by grilled onion slices, divided equally among 6 toasted rolls. Place the patties on top of each prepared roll bottom. Spread remaining curry sauce equally among roll tops. Place roll tops on top of each patty, serve immediately and enjoy! Deliciously Serves 6 Burgers