Spiced Burgers with Grilled Eggplant Salsa and Ginger Mayonnaise

Pairs well with:

Merlot

Get cozy and get pouring. Our Merlot is the wine for long weekends and lengthy chats.

Summer gardens in the South produce an abundance of fresh vegetables, eggplant being one of them.We are always trying to come up with new uses for this abundant vegetable. The fresh taste of mint, almost a weed in our gardens, and ginger in the salsa will bring out a unique dimension to the grilled spiced beef.

Ingredients:

Mayonnaise
1 cup good quality mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

Salsa
1 eggplant
1 onion
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup tomato, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Patties
2 pounds freshly ground chuck
1/4 cup water
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

Vegetable oil, for brushing grill rack
6 good-quality hamburger buns, split

Instructions:

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

For ginger mayonnaise, mix the mayonnaise and sour cream with grated ginger in a small bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until needed.

Start the salsa by slicing the eggplant (leaving the peal on) and pealed onion in half inch slices. Toss slices with 2 tablespoons olive oil and salt. Grill 5 minutes on each side. Remove from heat, cool and slice into 1/2 pieces. Mix with tomatoes, mint, remaining olive oil and lime juice. Cover and set aside until burgers are finished and ready for assembly.

To make patties place the ground beef and water with salt, cumin, cinnamon, allspice and coriander in a large bowl. Mix together avoiding over compaction of the mixture. Shape into 6 patties sized to fit buns.

Brush the hot grill rack with vegetable oil. Cook patties, keeping covered and turning once until done to personal preference, (for medium cook 5 to 7 minutes on each side). Warm buns by placing, cut side down, on the outer edges of the grill rack during the last few minutes of grilling.

To assemble burgers, spread ginger mayonnaise over the cut sides of the buns. On each bun bottom, place a grilled patty and top with salsa. Add the top bun and serve.

Makes 6 burgers