PIMENTO CHEESE AND PICKLED ONION SLIDERS

Every year in the middle of July, my dad requests grilled cheeseburgers for his birthday dinner. He has also always loved a good pimento cheese sandwich. So in honor of his two favorite sandwiches, I came up with these grilled pimento cheese mini burgers, also known as sliders. This is a fantastic and simple way to jazz up grilled hamburgers at your next cookout.

PICKLED ONIONS

½ cup cider vinegar

1 ½ tablespoons sugar

1 ½ teaspoons salt

1 red onion, thinly sliced

PIMENTO CHEESE SLIDERS

1 cup freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon diced pimentos

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, divided

1 pound ground chuck

¾ teaspoon salt

¾ teaspoon ground black pepper

8 small dinner rolls

For the onions, in a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, sugar, and salt. Place the onions in a bowl, and pour the vinegar mixture over the top. Let the onions stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour before using or refrigerate overnight.

For the sliders, in a bowl mix together the cheese, pimentos, mayonnaise, and 1 teaspoon of the Worcestershire sauce. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve the burgers. Form 8 small patties out of the chuck, and season them with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce over the patties.

Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Grill the patties for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Reduce the grill heat to low, and spread a spoonful of pimento cheese over each patty. Place the rolls on the grill, and close the lid. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the cheese melts and the rolls are heated.

To serve, split the rolls, and place the mini burgers on the roll bottoms. Top with the pickled onions and roll tops.

MAKES 8 SERVINGS.