The Italian Stallion

Pairs well with:

Pinot Noir

Every pour of our Pinot Noir brings you a delicious blend of berry flavors and the romantic aroma of violet.

As a Southerner, who loves the flavors of Italian food, it was easy to create this recipe. This is no small burger – easily appealing to those with a hearty appetite and rightfully earning its name of “The Italian Stallion”. For those that love good food with a good glass of wine, these two go hand-in-hand. Open wide and enjoy!

Ingredients:

Mama Mia Burger Stuffing
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh oregano, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped

Godfather Roasted Tomatoes
6 roma tomatoes, sliced in half length wise
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves fresh garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

“Forget About It” Bread Spread
4 cloves fresh garlic, whole
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise

Gladiator Patties
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves fresh garlic, finely chopped
4 shallots, finely chopped
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 pound ground sirloin
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Vegetable oil, for brushing on the grill rack

Bon Appetito Fixings
6 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
6 ciabatta rolls, sliced in half
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
6 romaine lettuce leaves

Instructions:

To prepare the Mama Mia Burger Stuffing, mix the softened butter with the rosemary, basil, oregano and thyme. Mold into a block shape similar in dimensions to a stick of butter. Place in the refrigerator until ready for use.

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

To prepare the Godfather Roasted Tomatoes, line a 9 x 13 fireproof pan with foil. Combine the roma tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt and black pepper in a small mixing bowl. Toss until the tomatoes are well coated. Place the tomatoes sliced-side down in the lined pan. Cover the pan with foil. Place the pan on the grill rack and close the lid. Cook for 20 minutes. Remove pan from grill and set aside until ready for use.

To prepare the “Forget About It” Bread Spread, place the 4 cloves of garlic on a sheet of foil. Coat the garlic with the 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Fold in all sides of the foil to form a sealed pouch. Place pouch on grill rack and close the lid. Cook for 10 minutes. Remove from the grill rack and allow to cool for 10 minutes. After cooled, place entire contents in a small mixing bowl. Mash the roasted garlic cloves with a fork until a paste is formed. Add the basil and the mayonnaise and stir until combined. Place in refrigerator until ready for use.

To prepare the Gladiator Patties, add the olive oil, garlic, shallots and crushed red pepper in a small fireproof skillet. Place skillet on the grill rack and cook, stirring frequently until softened, about 5 -7 minutes. Remove the pan from the grill and add the mixture to a medium mixing bowl. Allow mixture to cool for 5 minutes. After the mixture has cooled, add the ground sirloin, ground chuck, salt and pepper to the same bowl. Mix well, handling the mixture as little as possible. Divide the mixture into 12 equal parts. Form each into a thin patty.

Remove the Mama Mia Burger Stuffing from the refrigerator. Cut into 12 slices. Place 2 slices each onto the center of six of the patties and top with the remaining six patties. Pinch edges of patties together to seal.

When the grill is ready, brush the grill rack with the vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover and cook, turning once until done to preference, 7-8 minutes on each side for medium. During the last few minutes of grilling, place two of the Godfather Roasted Tomatoes on top of each of the patties followed by a slice of the fresh mozzarella cheese.

To prepare the rolls, brush the cut side of each with the olive oil and grill them until lightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes.

To assemble the burgers, on each roll bottom, place a tomato and cheese topped patty, followed by a romaine lettuce leaf. Spread a generous portion of the “Forget About It” Bread Spread on the cut side of the top bun. Add the roll tops and serve.

Makes 6 burgers.