Gazpacho Burger with Avocado Lime Cream

Pairs well with:

Zinfandel

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

Ingredients

Avocado Lime Cream:
1 ripe California avocado
1 lime, juice and zest
1/3 cup creme fraiche
Patties and Toppings:
3 medium tomatoes, preferably heirloom (one chopped for the patties and two sliced for toppings)
1 medium cucumber, (1/4 cup chopped fine for the patties and 12-18 slices for the toppings)
1/4 cup finely chopped yellow bell pepper for the patties, plus 12 strips of yellow pepper for the toppings
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 fresh garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley,stems removed, chopped fine, loosely packed 1 Tablespoon Colavita 25 Star Gran Riserva Balsamic Vinegar
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon hot sauce
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 1/2 pounds ground chuck
Colavita olive oil for brushing the grill rack
6 whole wheat bakery hamburger buns, split

 

Instructions

Cut the avocado in half lengthwise, discard the pit, scoop out the flesh and transfer to a food processor. Add the lime juice, lime zest and creme fraiche. Process until smooth, cover and set aside. Combine the cucumber, bell pepper, onion, garlic, tomatoes, parsley, vinegar, lemon juice, hot sauce, salt and pepper in a large bowl and mix well. Add the ground beef and handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form the portions into patties to fit the rolls. When the grill is ready, brush the grill rack with the olive oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover and cook, turning once, until done to preference, 5 to 7 minutes on each side for medium. During the last few minutes of cooking, place the buns, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly. To assemble the burgers, spread the avocado lime cream over the cut sides of each roll. On each roll bottom, place a patty, tomato slice, 2-3 cucumber slices and 2 bell pepper strips. Add the roll tops and serve. Makes 6 burgers.