Honey – Do Burger (…any “Honey” can do it)

Pairs well with:

Sauvignon Blanc

With hints of passion fruit, melon, and citrus, this wine beckons you to kick back and find a perfect porch swing.

Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons honey
1½ teaspoons chili powder
2 pounds ground chuck
6 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper
6 slices bacon
Canola oil for brushing the grill rack
6 slices smoked Gouda cheese
6 Kaiser rolls, split
6 ¼-inch thick honeydew melon slices
6 large butter lettuce leaves
6 large tomato slices

 

Instructions

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high. Place a rimmed nonstick perforated grilling pan on the grill rack.

To prepare the Honey – Mayonnaise Sauce, combine the mayonnaise, honey, and chili powder in a small bowl. Mix well, cover, and set in refrigerator.

Place the 6 slices of bacon on the pre-heated grilling pan and cook until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain.

To prepare the patties, mix together the hamburger and honey in a large bowl. Divide the mixture into 6 equal parts. Take 1 part and flatten it into an approximately 1/2 inch thick patty. Take 1 tablespoon of butter and cut in half. Then cut each half into 4 equal cubes. Press 1 cube onto each “corner” of a flattened patty. Fold the meat over the butter toward the center and shape it into a patty to fit the roll. Repeat the process for each of the remaining parts. Salt and pepper both sides.

Brush the grill rack with oil. Place the patties on the grill rack and cook until medium-rare, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. During the last 2 minutes of cooking, lay the cheese slices on the patties. Position the rolls, cut sides down, on the outer edges of the grill rack to toast lightly. Put the honeydew on the grill rack just long enough to form grill marks on both sides.

To assemble the burgers, spread a generous amount of the Honey – Mayonnaise Sauce on the cut sides of the rolls. On each roll bottom, place a lettuce leaf, a tomato slice, a patty with cheese, 1 slice of melon cut in half, and 1 slice of bacon broken in half. Add the roll tops and serve.

Makes 6 burgers.