Before you toss the usual burgers on the grill this summer. Before you endure the usual groans from bored burger eaters among family and friends. Do this: Stuff it.
Yep, surprise those blasé about burgers, and up your grilling game by tucking a chunk of cheese, a spoonful of sauteed mushrooms or some chopped, grilled red pepper — and more — inside a burger patty before grilling.
The lowdown on stuffings — a few from Sam Zien:
o Pesto, goat cheese: “Beautiful inside lamb, great inside beef.”
o Sauteed red onion, barbecue sauce, American cheese torn into small pieces.
o Feta, red onion, fresh mint: Chop red onion and fresh mint. Mix with ground lamb, salt and pepper. Tuck chunk of feta in middle.
o Mushrooms: “Sauteed, with a little kosher salt, pepper and maybe a little vermouth or soy sauce at end.”