THE GETTYSBURGER with PATRIOTIC FRUIT SALSA

Pairs well with:

Cabernet Sauvignon

This rich red easily complements your homemade chicken dishes, red meats, game, and mildly seasoned pastas.

I created a burger that combined some ingredients that may have reflected upon what was available to troops at the time of one of the greatest battles in Pennsylvania’s and American history – the Gettysburg Battle; i.e., beef, bacon, cheese, fruit and molasses, etc.I’ve also added some zing from the pepper sauce and chile in the salsa. The flavorful symbolic Patriotic Salsa with its red, white and blue components lend the colors of the American flag to complement my Great American burger.

Ingredients:

Salsa:

1 Bartlett Pear, peeled, cored, chopped
1 Red Jalapeno Chile, stemmed, seeded, chopped
3 T. Red Onion, chopped
1/2 C. Fresh Blueberries
3 T. Gingerale
1 t. Honey
1/4 t. Dijon Mustard

Burgers:

1 1/2 lb. Ground Beef Chuck
2 T. Flat-leafed Parsley, chopped
2 T. Shallots, minced
1/4 C. Red Bell Pepper, chopped
2 T. Tabasco Garlic Pepper Sauce
1 t. Sea Salt or to taste
1/4 t. Freshly Ground Black Pepper or to taste
6 Slices Bacon
1/2 C. Butter, melted
1 1/2 t. Light Molasses
Vegetable Oil for oiling grill rack
6 Kaiser Rolls, split
6 oz. White Cheddar Cheese, sliced into 6 slices

Garnish: 1 Carambola (Starfruit), sliced into 6 slices

Instructions:

For the salsa: In a medium bowl, mix together chopped pear, jalapeno chile, red onion and blueberries. In a measuring cup mix together gingerale, honey and dijon mustard and pour over fruit; refrigerate until ready to use.

Heat a gas grill to medium-hot for direct heat grilling

Burgers: To prepare the burgers, in a large bowl, mix together ground beef, parsley, shallots, red bell pepper, Tabasco garlic pepper sauce, sea salt and black pepper. Form into 6 burger patties.

In a cast iron skillet over medium-hot heat, cook the bacon, turning frequently, until golden brown and crisp. Remove to drain on paper toweling. Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix together melted butter and molasses.

Before grilling, oil the grill rack.

Place burgers on oiled grill rack and grill about 5-6 minutes per side, or to desired degree of doneness, brushing both sides with some of the molasses butter.

When burgers are nearing done, place a slice of cheese on each burger and melt slightly. Meanwhile, during the last few minutes of grilling, spread the cut sides of the buns lightly with some of the molasses butter and place around the edges of the grill to toast.

To serve, place a cheeseburger on bottom half of each bun and top with a slice of crisp bacon. With a slotted spoon, spoon some of Patriotic Fruit Salsa over top of bacon. Place a slice of starfruit on top and cover with tops of buns

Makes 6 burgers.