Ode to Barbecue Burgers (3 burger recipes)

I’m writing this posting on Halloween, but it’s not about candy. The weather is getting cooler and I’m pining for barbecue.

All summer long we have frequent potluck barbecues with our friends. Because we’re all foodies, these affairs offer way better fare than hot dogs and corn on the cob.

Our last group barbecue was on Labor Day. Since we had just come back from vacation, money was tight. So I decided my contribution would be burgers—but I couldn’t just slap together some chop meat and throw it on the grill. My rep was on the line.

Instead, I decided to make different kinds of sliders, which are just smaller burgers. I went online to find recipes (which I do often), and here’s what I made.

For my next-door neighbor Karin, who doesn’t eat beef, I made…

GRILLED TURKEY TERIYAKI BURGERS WITH GRILLED PINEAPPLE
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1739,157191-242195,00.html

Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground turkey
1 egg
1/2 c. breadcrumbs
1/2 c. chopped green pepper
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. teriyaki sauce (my favorite is Soy Vey Veri Veri Teriyaki sauce)
1 cored pineapple sliced into rings

What to do:
1. Pre-heat the grill to medium high and lightly oil the grate
Mix together the ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, chopped green pepper, onion and teriyaki sauce. Form them into patties.
2. Barbecue each pineapple ring until there are grill lines on both. Make sure they’re not burned. Set them aside.
3. Now grill the burgers until thoroughly done.
4. Place a burger on a bun, and then a pineapple ring on the burger.
5. Serve and accept your accolades.


For the carnivores in my yard, I made…

BLUE STUFFED BUFFALO BURGERS
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Blue-Stuffed-Buffalo-Burger/Detail.aspx

Ingredients:
2 pounds ground buffalo chop meat
2 teaspoons salt
Ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
8 whole wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted
1/2 cup mayonnaise
8 leaves Bibb lettuce
1/2 red onion, cut in 1/2-inch slices
8 slices tomato

What to do:
1. Pre-heat the grill to medium-high and lightly oil the grate.
2. Season the ground buffalo with salt and pepper; form into 8 balls. Press a cavity in each ball with your thumb pressing halfway into each ball; place a tablespoon of blue cheese into the hole and seal the meat around the cheese. Press each ball into a patty shape.
3. Cook the burgers on the preheated grill, 4 to 6 minutes per side for well done. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
4. Toast the buns and, when they’ve cooled a bit, spread them with mayonnaise. Place a burger patty onto each bun bottom, then place a lettuce leaf, onion rings, and tomato slice onto each sandwich. Top with the remaining buns to serve.


Our good friends Elizabeth and Doug love food with a kick. For them I made…

CHIPOTLE BURGERS
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/printerfriendly/Chipotle-Burgers-232484

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons canned chipotle chiles in adobo, including sauce
1 lb ground beef chuck
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
4 English muffins or hamburger buns

What to do:
1. Pre-heat the grill to medium-high and lightly oil the grate.
2. Open any whole chipotles and discard seeds, then mince chipotles
3. Mix chipotles (with sauce), beef, onion, and salt with your hands, then form mixture into patties.
4. Grill burgers, turning over once, 4 minutes total for medium-rare.
5. Grill English muffins/buns.
6. Serve burgers in English muffins.