Bella Burgers with Avobasil Aioli

Ingredients

Drunken Mushrooms:
2 large portabella mushrooms, stems removed
4 Tbsp olive oil
½ C Sutter Home Pinot Noir
¼ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper
Patties:
2 lbs. ground chuck
1 large portabella mushroom, stems removed, to yield 1C finely chopped
4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
¼ C red onion, finely chopped
2 Tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
¾ tsp kosher salt
1 ¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper
3 Tbsp olive oil
¼ C Sutter Home Pinot Noir
Avobasil Aioli:
1 large ripe Haas avocado
4 oz. feta cheese
½ C mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, crushed
¼ C fresh basil, chopped
¼ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp fresh ground black pepper
Buns and Additions:
6 Kaiser buns, split
¼ C mayonnaise
12 slices muenster cheese
1 bunch fresh spinach, stems removed and julienned
6 thin slices red onion

Instructions

Using a charcoal grill, prepare mesquite coals for a medium-hot grilling. To prepare the Drunken Mushrooms, slice 2 large portabellas into 1/4” cross-sections (at least 20 slices, lest a couple be lost to the grill!), and arrange slices into a shallow dish. Drizzle slices with olive oil and wine; season with salt and pepper; cover and refrigerate. To prepare the patty mixture, place the beef into a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, combine the diced mushrooms, feta cheese, garlic, onion, basil, ½ tsp salt, and 1 tsp pepper mixing well. Gently incorporate this mixture into the bowl containing the beef. Divide into 6 equal portions; form each into a 5” patty, taking care not to over handle the meat, and arrange patties into a shallow dish. Drizzle olive oil over both sides of patties, and dust top side with remaining salt and pepper. Add ¼ C Pinot Noir to the dish; cover and refrigerate. To prepare the Avobasil Aioli, combine the avocado, feta cheese, mayonnaise, garlic, basil, and pepper in a food processor or blender, and blend until smooth and creamy. Refrigerate until time for burger assembly. Remove the patties and mushrooms from the refrigerator 15 minutes prior to grill time. When the grill is ready, place the Drunken Mushrooms on the rack, uncovered, flip the mushrooms after 3 to 4 minutes, grilling them for a total of 8 minutes. Move the mushrooms to the rack edges, away from direct heat. Place patties (salt and pepper side down) on the grill and flip patties after 4 to 5 minutes (for medium); top with a cheese slice, 3 grilled Drunken Mushroom slices, and another cheese slice. Cover and finish grilling to preference (after flipping, a total of 4 to 5 more minutes for medium). During the final cooking minutes, smear insides of bun tops and bottoms approximately ½ Tbsp of mayonnaise (each), and toast until golden, about 1 minute. To assemble the burgers, spread a generous amount of Avobasil Aioli on the inside of each toasted bun top. Top each bun bottom with a small pile of the julienned spinach, a patty, and 1 red onion slice. Finish your mouth-watering creation with bun top and serve immediately. Serves 6.