Jalapeño Burgers
Imagine a juicy, succulent, cooked-to-perfection beef patty with chunks of cheddar cheese stuffed inside the meat.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, (80/20 fat content)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, roughly chopped
- 1 jalapeno, cleaned, seeds removed (optional) and sliced
- salt and pepper
- fresh spinach, washed and dried
Instructions
- Combine the ground beef with the cheddar cheese and jalapeno slices in a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Form ¼ pound each burger patties.
- Over high heat place a grill plate and when hot brush some oil over the surface.
- Add the burger patties and cook to desired doneness paying attention as the cheese will melt and stick to the grill. 4 to 5 minutes per side.
- On a plate place a small bed of spinach and add the burger on top of it. Add the radishes and limes with avocado to your plate.
Notes
Control the heat. I prefer a medium level of spice, so I remove most of the jalapeño seeds and white membranes before slicing. Leave more in if you enjoy extra heat.
Be careful when cleaning jalapeños. Avoid touching your face or eyes, and do not breathe too closely over the pepper while removing the seeds. I learned that lesson the hard way.
Use 80/20 ground beef. The extra fat keeps your jalapeño burgers juicy and flavorful while they cook.
Keep the cheese tucked inside. When shaping the patties, make sure large pieces of cheddar are not exposed. Otherwise, the cheese can melt directly onto the grill and burn.
Make your burgers the same size. I use a measuring cup to portion the meat evenly so every burger cooks at approximately the same rate.
Watch the grill closely. The cheddar will melt as the burgers cook, so keep an eye on them and turn them carefully.
Let them rest briefly. Once cooked, give the burgers a couple of minutes to rest before serving so all those wonderful juices stay inside.
My favorite way to serve them: Skip the bun and place the burger over fresh spinach with avocado, radishes, and a squeeze of lime. The freshness balances the jalapeño heat beautifully.
Nutrition
Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 251mg | Potassium: 334mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 283IU | Calcium: 224mg | Iron: 2mg
Giangi's Kitchen provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.