A classic combination: blue cheese, bacon, and pear. But these burgers are inside out—the cheese hides inside the burgers. As the burgers cook, the cheese melts and bastes the beef. I’ve used sirloin, a more expensive cut than usual for burgers, but bear in mind, when you want to splurge on ingredients, sliders make swell party food. You can also make the burgers with lamb. I’ve mixed bacon into the burgers and used it as a garnish, too. Also, you can omit the grilled pear, or, if it’s perfectly ripe, use it raw.–Hubert Keller and Penelope Wisner
LC SOMETIMES SLIDERS ARE NOT WHAT YOU WANT NOTE
We’re all for sliders. On all sorts of occasions. Although sometimes sliders are not what you want. When that happens, just make bigger burgers—say, 8 or so behemoths as opposed to 24 wee sliders.
☞ Contents
Blue Cheese Stuffed Bacon Sliders
Ingredients
- 16 slices (1 pound) apple-smoked bacon
- 2 ripe but firm pears
- About 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 3 pounds coarsely ground sirloin chilled
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 6 ounces (about 1/2 cup) crumbled blue cheese at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons olive oil plus about 1 teaspoon
- Sea salt
- 24 soft slider buns
- 2 1/2 cups baby arugula leaves
- 1 small red onion (about the same diameter as the buns), very thinly sliced
- 1 pint basket cherry tomatoes (optional)
Directions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy, and then drain on paper towels. Cut 8 of the slices crosswise into 3 pieces each; crumble the remaining bacon and set both aside separately.
- Peel the pears, halve them lengthwise, and core them. Cut them crosswise into thin slices and put in a bowl. Toss with the sugar and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the meat, thyme, crumbled bacon, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Using your hands, knead together lightly. Form the mixture into 48 evenly sized balls (about 1 ounce each). Use the pointed end of an egg to make a small depression in half the patties. Fill them with a little mound of cheese, dividing it evenly among them. Top with the remaining patties, and then pinch them together around the cheese. Make sure the stuffing is completely enclosed. Pat and mold the burgers to fit the buns. The burgers can be shaped and refrigerated, covered, for several hours or overnight.
- When ready to cook, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot or build a medium-hot fire in a barbecue. Generously season the meat on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Cook the burgers in the skillet, in batches, turning once or twice, about 3 minutes for medium-rare. Do not press down on the patties. Be gentle when you turn the burgers so they do not break open. With a large spoon, baste the sliders several times with the fat in the pan. To grill the burgers, oil the grate, arrange the patties on it, and cover. Cook as above.
- While the burgers cook, toast the buns in a toaster oven or under the broiler, about 5 inches from the heat, until lightly toasted. Or toast them on the outer perimeter of the grill rack.
- When the burgers are done, remove them to a warm platter, keep warm, and let rest for several minutes. Meanwhile, heat the remaining teaspoon of the olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the pear slices, or place them on the outside of the grill rack, and cook just until warm and lightly browned. Turn and repeat, then remove to a plate. They should still be crunchy.
- To build the burgers, arrange a few leaves of arugula on the bun bottoms. Top each with a pear slice or two, a piece of bacon, and a burger. Add an onion slice and a bun top, and skewer securely together. Add a cherry tomato as a topknot, if you wish, on the skewer. Serve immediately.
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Originally published April 30, 2009
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If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
The pear slices and arugula particularly make this slider luverly! Made it last year for my 4th of July celebration on a campground and will do the same this year. Just a heads up: you can form these burgers in advance and freeze them making sure to place small squares of wax paper between them to keep them from sticking together.
Perfect, NYCgal, just perfect!