Clemson University Blue Cheese Stumphouse Burgers with South Carolina Peach Salsa

Pairs well with:

Zinfandel

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

Clemson University makes its own blue cheese and has since World War II. At the beginning, it was aged in the tunnel of Stumphouse Mountain which, with its particular air currents, had the conditions of a cave.
Today creating this cheese is still an artisan work with hand made perfection and is the pride of South Carolina. As for peaches, our production is the second largest in the nation. You could say that with Clemson blue cheese and sweet South Carolina peaches this burger is a true All American Burger—-good and delicious!!!

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

Salsa:
1½ tablespoons grape seed oil
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
½ teaspoon salt
2 ripe, firm medium peaches, peeled and diced
1/3 cup finely diced red onion
1 teaspoon finely diced jalapeno pepper with seeds removed
1 Granny Smith apple peeled and diced
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon honey or to taste

Patties
½ cup diced red onion
2 minced garlic cloves
11/2 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 pounds ground chuck

vegetable oil for the grill

6 seeded buns, split

¾ cup room temperature cream cheese
½ cup crumbled Clemson blue cheese or another deeply-veined blue cheese
½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
pinch of salt

6 ounces crumbled Clemson blue cheese or another blue cheese

6 bib lettuce leaves

Instructions:

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

In a medium size bowl, mix the grape seed oil, lime juice and salt .Add the peaches, onion, pepper, apple
cilantro, and honey. Combine well and refrigerate.

For the patties: In a large bowl, mix the onion, garlic, salt, pepper and then add the ground chuck and gently combine. Shape mixture into six patties to fit the bottom of the buns. Transfer the patties to a plate and cover and refrigerate.

Brush the grill rack with vegetable oil.

Grill buns, cut side down for about 2 minutes or until they are nicely toasted.
Mix the blue cheese, cream cheese, lemon juice and salt together and spread on the bottom of each bun Set aside.

Put the patties on the grill and grill for about 3 minutes, turn them over and sprinkle each patty with blue cheese…
Grill for another 3 minutes with the cover down until the cheese is soft. and the burger is cooked to medium.

To assemble:
Place a lettuce leaf on the bottom of the bun, then the patty and a generous tablespoon of salsa on top of the patty. Add the bun top and serve.

Makes 6 burgers