Fire Roasted Jalapeño Burgers with Manchego Cheese and Mango-Tango Salsa

Pairs well with:

Cabernet Sauvignon

This rich red easily complements your homemade chicken dishes, red meats, game, and mildly seasoned pastas.

Ingredients

Oil to brush the grill
4 jalapeño peppers, divided
1 ripe medium sized mango, peeled, seeded and diced
1 California avocado, peeled, seeded and diced
1/2 cup diced red onion
4 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro, divided
1 lime
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
2 1/2 pounds freshly ground beef chuck
8 ounces Manchego cheese, thinly sliced
6 Portuguese rolls, split
6 Romaine lettuce leaves, coarsely chopped

 

Instructions

Preheat a gas grill to medium high heat.

Lightly brush the grill rack with oil. Arrange three of the jalapeño peppers on the grill and cook in a closed grill, turning occasionally, until charred on all sides-about 10 minutes. Remove the peppers from the grill and place in a small paper bag, close and let sit while preparing the salsa.

Take the remaining jalapeño pepper, remove and discard the top, slice open and remove any seeds and membranes; finely chop and place in a medium sized bowl. Stir in the diced mango, avocado, red onion and 2 tablespoons of the cilantro. Remove the zest from the lime and measure 1 teaspoon. Finely chop the teaspoon of zest and add to the mango and avocado. Squeeze the juice from the lime and measure 2 teaspoons; stir into the salsa. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, cover with plastic wrap and keep cool while preparing the patties.

Remove the jalapeño peppers from the paper bag, using a knife or just your fingers carefully remove the skins from the peppers (you may want to use gloves). Slice open peeled peppers, discard tops and remove any seeds or membranes. Finely chop the peppers and place into a large bowl. Break apart the ground chuck into the bowl with the peppers. Add the remaining salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons of cilantro. Using your hands gently combine the peppers, meat and seasoning. Form the meat into 6 equal sized patties. Lightly brush the grill rack again with oil and arrange the patties on the grill. Cook patties for 4 minutes in a closed grill; turn patties using a spatula and top each with several slices of the Manchego cheese. Close the grill and continue cooking an additional 4-5 minutes for medium rare or until desired doneness. During the last 2 minutes of grilling, arrange the rolls, split side down on the edges of the grill to lightly toast.

To assemble the burgers, arrange the romaine lettuce on the bottom half of each roll, evenly dividing. Top the lettuce on each with a patty (cheese side up) and then spoon a generous portion of the Mango-Tango salsa on each. Top with remaining roll halves and serve immediately.