Smoky Chicken Waldorf Burgers

Ingredients

Grape Dressing:
½ cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
½ cup chopped seedless grapes
½ teaspoon celery seed

Patties:
1½ pounds ground chicken
1 teaspoon sea salt
¼ to ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
¼ cup sweetened dried cherries
¼ cup pecans, chopped
¼ cup finely sliced celery
1/3 cup raspberry-walnut vinaigrette

vegetable oil for grill rack

6 slices provolone cheese
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
6 thick tart apple rounds, peeled, sliced, & cored
12 (1-inch thick) slices Ciabatta bread
1 small head radicchio, shredded

 

Instructions

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

To make the grape dressing, combine all ingredients in a small bowl, mixing well.

To make the patties, combine chicken, salt, pepper, cherries, pecans, and celery in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly, but do not compact meat. Form mixture into six equal patties; brush tops with vinaigrette. When grill is ready, brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook until done, about 4-6 minutes per side, turning patties once, during grilling. (Brush top of turned patties with vinaigrette.) Top each patty with a slice of cheese when done. Combine butter and brown sugar in small fire-proof skillet or saucepan on grill until butter is melted and sugar dissolved. Brush apple rounds with butter mixture and grill for about 3 minutes per side or until apples start to brown. During last minutes of grilling, place Ciabatta slices on the outer edges of the grill rack to toast lightly, turning bread once.

To assemble burgers, spread six slices of bread (on one side) with grape dressing. Place a patty on each of the remaining six bread slices. Place a grilled apple round over patty and top with shredded radicchio. Top with the Ciabatta slices that have been spread with grape dressing and serve. Makes 6 burgers.