Mastering the Grill_ The Owner's Manual for Outdoor Cooking - Andrew Schloss [65]
3. Brush the grill grate and coat it with oil. Put the burgers on the grill, cover, and cook for 7 minutes, flipping after about 4 minutes, for medium-done (150°F, slightly pink). Add a minute per side for well-done (160°F).
4. To toast the buns, put them cut-sides down directly over the fire for the last minute of cooking.
5. If serving the burgers directly from the grill, serve on the buns. If the burgers will sit, even for a few minutes, keep the buns and burgers separate until just before eating.
Spicy Black Bean Burgers
Like all ground-meat dishes, burgers benefit from some filler. Fillers add flavor and creaminess, and because most contain some starch, and starch absorbs moisture, burgers containing a purée of beans, or bread or cereal, keep their juices better than plain old unadulterated naked ground beef alone. In this burger, the filler is bean dip, which adds a little heat and the fragrance of cumin as well as moisture.
TIMING
Prep: 5 minutes
(plus 5 minutes for rub)
Grill: 7 minutes
GRILL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
• Long-handled spatula
GETTING CREATIVE
• The spicy character of these burgers goes well with fresh tomatoes, caramelized onions, assertive greens like spinach or arugula, or a few slices of crisp cucumber.
• If you want to add cheese, make it something you’d add to a chili, like aged Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or smoked Gouda.
• If you can’t find corn cakes (such as Thomas’), substitute kaiser rolls (or another crusty round roll).
• Substitute rehydrated powdered black beans or refried beans for the bean dip.
THE GRILL
Gas:
Direct heat, medium-high (425° to 450°F)
Clean, oiled grate
Charcoal:
Direct heat, light ash
12-by-12-inch charcoal bed (about 3 dozen coals)
Clean, oiled grate on lowest setting
Wood:
Direct heat, light ash
12-by-12-inch bed, 3 to 4 inches deep
Clean, oiled grate set 2 inches above the fire
INGREDIENTS (MAKES 6 SERVINGS)
2 pounds ground beef chuck, 85% lean
¼ cup finely chopped jalapeño en escabèche
(canned jalapeño), drained
½ teaspoon Cajun Blackening Rub (page 373)
½ cup jarred black bean dip
Oil for coating grill grate
6 store-bought corn cakes
2 tablespoons butter, melted
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat the grill as directed.
2. Using your hands, mix the beef, jalapeño, Cajun rub, and bean dip in a bowl until well blended; do not overmix. Using a light touch, form into 6 patties no more than 1 inch thick. Refrigerate the burgers until the grill is ready.
3. Brush the grill grate and coat it with oil. Put the burgers on the grill, cover, and cook for 7 minutes, flipping after about 4 minutes, for medium-done (150°F, slightly pink). Add a minute per side for well-done (160°F).
4. To toast the corn cakes, brush with butter and toast directly over the fire for the last minute of cooking.
5. If serving the burgers directly from the grill, serve each on top of a corn cake. If the burgers will sit, even for a few minutes, keep the corn cakes and burgers separate until just before eating. Serve with a fork and knife; these are not hand-held.
Roasted Pepper–Mole Burgers
Mole is the most elaborate of the Mexican sauces. Made by grinding and simmering cooked chiles, toasted spices, ground nuts, chopped fruit, and broth, even a simple mole can take more than a day to prepare. As a time-saver, several Hispanic food manufacturers market prepared mole paste, which includes all of the flavorful ingredients you would add to a mole, precooked and ready to go. In this burger, we use mole paste like ketchup or mustard, to add instant flavor and complexity.
TIMING
Prep: 5 minutes
Grill: 8 to 10 minutes
GRILL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
• Long-handled spatula
GETTING CREATIVE
• The spicy character of these burgers goes well with fresh tomatoes, caramelized onions, assertive greens like spinach or arugula, or a few slices of crisp cucumber.
• If you want to add cheese, make it something you’d add to a chili, like aged Cheddar, Monterey