Sage Infused, Caramelized Onion Apple Burgers!

Pairs well with:

Zinfandel

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

I was brain storming for another recipe to submit for this contest & “Caramel Apple Burgers” popped in my head.I instantly grabbed my notebook and began writing down the recipe. Caramelized onions topping a sage & granny smith apple burgers. Then I thought of the sage/fig aioli. YES!!! The sweetness of the fig with the onions…perfect! I thought the distinct flavor of Swiss cheese with the tartness of the apple would mix well. I ran to my kitchen & was overly excited to see I had all of the ingredients on hand. I made these & my family raved!!! These are GREAT burgers!!!

Ingredients:

Sage, Fig Aioli

2 egg yolks

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon fresh sage, minced

1 fig, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Caramelized Onions

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 Vidalia onions, sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Patties

2 pounds ground beef chuck (80/20)

1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped

1 large granny smith apple, diced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup Sutter Home Zinfandel

Six slices of Swiss Cheese

6 Kaiser rolls

Instructions:

Place garlic in food processor. Pulse for 30 seconds. Add eggs & lemon juice. Pulse until blended. Add sage, fig, salt & pepper. Pulse an additional 30 seconds. Turn processor on and stream in olive oil. Place in a bowl, cover & refrigerate.

Preheat grill to medium high heat. In a grill safe pan, melt butter & olive oil. Add sliced onions and garlic to pan. Season with salt & pepper. Saute until golden brown approximately 15-20 minutes.

To make the patties, combine the beef, sage, apples, salt, pepper & wine in a large bowl, handling as little as possible. Shape into 6 patties making an indentation in the middle.

Brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place patties on grill. Cook 5-7 minutes on each side for medium-well.

Grill the buns to toast them for 2-3 minutes.

To assemble, spread aioli on top & bottom of buns. Add burger patties. Top each burger with a slice of cheese & a healthy serving of onions. Enjoy!