GORGONZOLA-STUFFED BURGERS WITH SWEET ONION AND TOMATO JAM

This burger is stuffed with butter and cheese, so we are off to a pretty good start. But the sweet onion and tomato jam really put this burger over the top. It’s the ultimate sweet and tangy burger condiment.

BURGERS

3 tablespoons butter, softened

½ cup Gorgonzola cheese

1 ¼ pounds ground beef

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Hamburger buns

SWEET ONION AND TOMATO JAM

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cups sliced Vidalia onion (or sweet yellow onion)

1 (8-ounce) jar sundried tomatoes in oil, chopped and drained

1 ½ cups water

¼ cup red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

For the burgers, stir together the butter and Gorgonzola in a small bowl until they are well combined. Form the mixture into a log, and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until firm. Slice the log into 4 sections.

Divide the ground beef into 4 pieces and roll each into a ball. Make a well into the center of each ball, and stuff it with one section of the butter mixture. Mold the beef around the butter mixture, and flatten the beef into patties. Sprinkle both sides of the patties with the salt and pepper. Refrigerate the stuffed patties until you are ready to grill them.

For the jam, heat the oil in a saucepan over low heat, and add the sliced onions. Cook the onions, stirring them occasionally, for 20 minutes. Stir in the sundried tomatoes, water, vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and cook, covered, for 30 minutes. The mixture should have a jam consistency.

Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Place the burgers on the grill, and cook them for 6 to 7 minutes per side. Place the burgers on the buns, top them with the onions and tomato jam, and serve warm.

MAKES 4 SERVINGS.

TIP: To serve these at a tailgate, make the patties and the jam ahead of time, and chill them in a cooler until you are ready to grill and assemble the burgers.