Yucatan Burgers with Asadero Cheese and Avocado Sour Cream

Ingredients

1 Haas avocado, pitted and diced
1 cup Mexican sour cream (substitute crème fraiche or sour cream)
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon garlic, finely minced
2 teaspoons fresh oregano leaves, finely chopped
(or can substitute 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano or 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves)
12 slices bacon, diced
2 ounces achiote paste
3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
2 pounds ground chuck
1 teaspoon Mexican chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil, for brushing on the grill rack
1/2 pound Asadero Cheese (or other Mexican cheese)
6 hamburger buns, split

Instructions

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

To make Avocado Sour Cream, place the avocado in a small mixing bowl and mash with the back of a fork until relatively smooth. Add sour cream, lime juice, garlic, and oregano; mix until well combined. Refrigerate until serving.

Place a large fireproof non-stick skillet on the grill. Add bacon and cook until crispy, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

To make the patties, in a large bowl add achiote paste and orange juice; stir until well combined. Add beef, chili powder, allspice, salt, and pepper. Handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form the portions into patties to fit the buns.

Brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once, just until done, about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare. During the last few minutes of cooking, top the burgers with equal amounts of Asadero cheese and place the buns, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly.

To assemble the burgers, place a generous amount of Avocado Sour Cream on the cut sides of buns. On each bun bottom, place a patty topped with cheese and equal amounts of bacon. Add the bun tops and serve.