Lemon-Peppercorn Burger with Tangy Carrot and Cabbage Slaw

Pairs well with:

Zinfandel

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

As ever summer season goes with grilling in our backyard,my family challenged me to come up with a burger that had zing!

Ingredients:

Lemon Cheese Sauce –
8 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Patties –
2 pounds freshly ground chuck
1/2 cup finely crushed black peppercorns
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons kosher salt

Tangy Carrot and Cabbage Slaw –
1 1/2 cups finely shredded carrots
1 cup finely shredded red cabbage
1/4 cup malt vinegar
2 tablespoons Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
1 tablespoon finely crushed black peppercorns
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar

2 – 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, for brushing on the grill rack
6 high-quality soft Kaiser rolls, split

Instructions:

To make the sauce, combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside until assembling the burgers.

To make the patties, combine all patty ingredients in a large bowl. Handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Divide mixture into six (6) equal portions and, using your hands, shape into patties to fit the buns. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to grill.

To make the slaw, combine all slaw ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside until assembling the burgers.

Heat a gas grill to medium-high. When grill is ready, brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once, until done to preference, 5 – 7 minutes on each side. During the last few minutes of grilling, place the buns, cut-side down, on the outer edges of the grill rack to lightly toast.

To assemble the burgers, spread the cut-side of buns with equal portions of the lemon cheese sauce. On each bun bottom, place a grilled patty, followed by equal portions of the carrot and cabbage slaw. Add the bun tops and serve.