White Mexican Cheeseburger with Rajas

Pairs well with:

Zinfandel

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

Ingredients

Roasted Garlic
4 Poblano Peppers
1 1/2 Vegetable Oil
1 Medium Spanish Onion
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup heavy crream
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon roasted cumin seeds
36 ounces ground chuck
2 Tablespoons fresh oregano
12 grinds of black pepper
Vegetable oil for brushing grill rack
6 five inch rounds of quesadilla cheese
6 Kaiser rolls
3 ounces melted butter
Mayonaise with lime
6 leaves bib letucce
6 slices tomato
Dijon Mustard

 

Instructions

To prepare Rajas, cut a small slit in the pepper near the stem. Roast the peppers over a medium hot grill until well blackened on all sides.Remove peppers to a small bowl and cover with a plate to steam peppers. When peppers are cool, peel away the skin and split to removes seeds and stem. Cut peppers into 1/4 inch strips. Set aside. Place 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a fireproof skillet on grill rack over medium high heat. Once oil is fully heated add the onion slices and saute 6 to 8 minutes. Then add minced garlic and cook another minute. Then add the cream, herbs, bay leaves and reserved poblano strips. Cook until liquid has reduced. Remove from heat.When cool, remove bay leaves and add salt. To make patties, combine the roasted garlic, crushed cumin seeds, ground beef, oregano, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix well. Handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compactin , divide mixture in 6 equal portions and form into patties. Brush grill rack with vegetable oil and heat to medium high. Cook burgers 5 minutes per side for medium rare, turning once. With 2 minutes remaining on second side, cover each burger with a slice of quesadilla cheese. Cover grill to assure melting of cheese. When medium rare, remove burgers to a warm platter to rest. Brush cut side of Kaiser rolls with melted butter using a pastry brush. Lightly toast cut side of rolls directly over heat on grill. To assemble burgers, spread lime mayonaise on tosted side of bottom roll, add bib lettuce, then tomato slice. Place burger on top of tomato, then add the reserved rajas, enough to cover top of burger. Add dijon mustard to cut side of toasted roll tops and place on burger. Recipe makes six burgers.