Green-Chile Bacon Burgers with Goat Cheese
This chile pepper is often mislabeled ‘Pasilla’, which is a different pepper entirely.It is one of the most popular chiles in Mexico and has won the appreciation of many a chef worldwide because of the superior flavor it has over regular bell peppers.
They have a tough outer skin that usually requires roasting and peeling before use. These very large chile peppers are most popular in chiles rellenos recipes, but cooking with these as a substitute for bell peppers in any recipe will enhance the flavor.
Ingredients:
8 thick-cut slices of bacon (about 1/2 pound)
1/2 cup mango chutney, preferably Major Grey brand
1 poblano chile
Vegetable oil, for brushing
4 hamburger buns, split
1 large tomato, cut into 4 thick slices
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
Salt and freshly ground pepper
3 ounces fresh goat cheese, cut into 4 slices
Watercress sprigs or lettuce, for serving
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375°. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the bacon slices on the paper and brush both sides liberally with the chutney, leaving any chunks in the jar. Bake the bacon for about 30 minutes, turning once, until caramelized. Transfer the glazed bacon to a rack and let cool.
Meanwhile, light a grill or preheat a grill pan. Rub the chile with oil and grill until charred all over, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let stand for 10 minutes. Peel the poblano and coarsely chop it.
Brush the cut sides of the buns with oil and grill until toasted, about 30 seconds. Brush the tomato slices with oil and grill just until lightly charred, about 1 minute. Place the grilled tomato slices on the bottom half of the buns.
Form the beef into four 1-inch-thick patties and brush with oil. Season with salt and pepper and grill over high heat, turning once, until nearly medium-rare, about 6 minutes. Top with the goat cheese and chopped poblano, close the grill and cook until the cheese is completely melted and the burgers are medium-rare, about 1 minute. Set the burgers on the buns, top with the glazed bacon and watercress sprigs and serve right away.
Serves 4.
Recipe by Bobby Flay, via foodandwine.com