BUNLESS BURGER SERIES – ITALIAN WHITE CHEDDAR CHEESEBURGERS with BALSAMIC GLAZED ONION & ROASTED POTATOES
With having to give up bread I have found it challenging to eat satisfying meals. Years ago I started a Bunless Burger series, but never did much with it so I’m back to add to the selections with these Italian flavored cheeseburgers are layered with tons of satisfying flavors.
3/4 pounds ground beef
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small Vidalia onion, halved and sliced into half rings
White cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar or Balsamic Vinegar
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 pound fingerlings or tri-colored potatoes, cut lengthwise into 1 inch wedges.
1-2 teaspoons sweet paprika
Avocado oil
BUNS – OPTIONAL
- Place an oven rack in the center of the oven, then preheat to 450°.
- Place the potato wedges on a sheet pan.
- Drizzle with avocado oil.
- Sprinkle with paprika, salt and pepper; toss to coat.
- Arrange potatoes in an even layer, skin side down.
- Roast 28 to 30 minutes, or until browned and tender when pierced with a fork.
- Remove from the oven.
- While the potatoes roast, in a medium pan, heat a drizzle of avocado oil on medium-high until hot.
- Add the diced onion; season with salt and pepper.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes, or until lightly browned and softened.
- Add the garlic; season again with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until softened and fragrant.
- Add the vinegar and sugar, stirring occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes, or until well coated and most of the liquid has cooked off.
- Re-season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer to a bowl and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
- While the onion cooks, in a medium bowl, combine the beef, Italian seasoning and a generous sprinkling of the salt and pepper.
- Gently mix to combine. DO NOT OVERWORK the meat.
- Using your hands, form the mixture into two 1/2-inch-thick patties; transfer to a plate.
- Heat 2 teaspoons of avocado oil on medium-high until hot.
- Add the patties and cook 4 to 5 minutes on the first side, or until browned.
- Flip the patties.
- Evenly top with the sliced cheese.
- Loosely cover and cook 4 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the patties are cooked to your desired degree of doneness.
- Leaving any browned bits of fond in the pan, transfer burgers to a plate. Loosely cover with the foil to keep warm.
- Add the buns (if using), cut side down, to the pan of reserved fond adding a drizzle of oil if the pan is too dry.
- Toast on medium-high 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until lightly browned.
- Transfer to a work surface and assemble the burgers using the toasted buns, cooked patties, and glazed onion (you may have extra onion).
- Serve the burgers with the roasted potatoes on the side.
- Enjoy!
