In a burger rut?  These fantastic burgers have a chimichurri sauce: an Argentinean sauce similar to pesto, that is popular throughout South America.  Try this recipe on your next burger night!

Prep time:  30 mins

Spicy Chimichurri Burgers

Cook time:  15 mins
Total time:  45 mins

Servings: 4-8


Ingredients
FOR THE CHIMICHURRI:

•     1 bunch Fresh Parsley, rinsed and patted dry
•     6 Garlic Cloves, smashed, peeled and coarsely chopped
•     3 tablespoons STAR White Wine Vinegar
•     1 medium Lemon, juiced
•     1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
•     ½ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
•     ¼ teaspoon Ground Chipotle Pepper
•     ¾ cup STAR Picual Usage Pairing Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Beef/Lamb

FOR THE BURGERS:

•     ½ a large Yellow Onion, peeled and chopped
•     4 Garlic Cloves, smashed, peeled and minced
•     1 Serrano Chile, seeded and minced
•     1 tablespoon Ground Cumin
•     ½ tablespoon Ancho Chili Powder
•     1 tablespoon Star Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus more for the griddle
•     Kosher Salt and Black Pepper
•     2 pounds Ground Chuck
•     4-8 slices of Pepper Jack Cheese
•     Crusty Hamburger Buns

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS:

    Grilled Red Onion
    Sliced Avocado
    Sliced Tomato

Instructions

    FOR THE CHIMICHURRI: In a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, throw in the smashed and peeled garlic cloves, secure the lid and pulse until minced.
    Add in the leaves of an entire bunch of parsley, the lemon juice, vinegar, kosher salt, black pepper, chipotle powder and olive oil. Pulse a few times until mixed but not fully pureed. This should be made a day or even two ahead of time so the flavors can meld. I store mine in a glass jar.
    FOR THE BURGERS:
    In a small skillet add a tablespoon of STAR Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil; sauté the diced onion, garlic and Serrano chile until softened. Add in the cumin, ancho chili powder and stir. Cook for one minute and then transfer to a clean plate to cool.
    In a large bowl combine the ground chuck, cooled onions/peppers and a couple of pinches of kosher salt and black pepper. Mix by hand until combined. Be careful not to over mix. Form into 4 large or 8 medium burgers and let them rest for a few so they come up to room temperature.
    Brush a griddle with a drizzle of STAR Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil and preheat to 375 degrees. Once hot place the burgers onto the griddle. If you’re making a larger, well done burger cook for 5-6 minutes before flipping. Now top the burgers with slices of pepper-jack cheese. Cook for another 5 to 6 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the burger is fully cooked. Adjust the times if you are making smaller burgers.
    While the burgers were resting, I quickly threw sliced red onions onto the hot griddle until soft and charred.
    Serve on a toasted hamburger bun and top with a few spoonfuls of the chimichurri sauce, griddled red onions, fresh slices of tomato and avocado.
    Enjoy!

Recipe developed by www.simplyscratch.com