Iberian Burger with Madeira Mushrooms and White Gazpacho Mayonnaise

Ingredients

1/2 cup blanched almonds
1/3 cup seedless white grapes
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons Spanish extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons Spanish extra-virgin olive oil
16 ounces crimini mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup Madeira wine
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1/2 pound linguica sausage (Portuguese pork sausage), finely chopped (if unavailable, substitute chorizo)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil, for brushing on the grill rack
6 onion rolls, sliced in half
6 ounces Iberico cheese, grated
6 slices tomato

Instructions

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

To make White Gazpacho Mayonnaise, in the bowl of a food processor combine almonds, grapes, garlic, sherry vinegar, and olive oil; puree. Add mayonnaise and pulse until well combined. Refrigerate until serving.

To make the Madeira mushrooms, heat olive oil to a large fireproof non-stick skillet on the grill over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms to the skillet and cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add Madeira wine and continue to cook until most of the wine has evaporated. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Set aside.

To make the patties, combine the beef, linguica sausage, salt and pepper in a large bowl. 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.

Brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once, just until done, about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare. During the last few minutes of cooking, top each burger with equal amounts of cheese and place the rolls, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly.

To assemble the burgers, spread a generous amount of White Gazpacho Mayonnaise on the cut side of the rolls. On each roll bottom, place a slice of tomato, a cheese-topped patty, and Madeira mushrooms. Add roll tops and serve.