Blue Cheese Burgers with Red Wine Onion Jam

"Thank you sir, can I please have another!"

Yamma-hamma, this is a great burger!  It's based on a recipe from Bobby Flay's book "Grill It".  If you like blue cheese, red wine and sirloin, you will love this burger!  This is one burger that is worthy of a fine craft beer or nice bottle of wine.

Red Wine Onion Jam

Ingredients (Serves 4):
1 1/2 pounds of ground sirlion
4 Hamburger buns 
2 tablespoons of Canola oil
Dijon Mustard
1 Small Wedge of Blue Cheese
1 cup of greens (watercress, spring mix, romaine, etc)
Softened butter or margarine

Ingredients for Red Wine Onion Jam:
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 red onions cut in half length wise and then sliced thin
2 tablespoons of fresh thyme
2 tablespoons of red wine vinager
1 tablespoon of honey
Kosher salt and pepper

To make the jam, heat the oil in a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat.  Add the onion and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes or until the onions are softened and almost caramelized, stirring frequently.  Add the thyme and cook for one minute.  Now your kitchen will smell awesome!  Add the red wine, vinegar, and honey, and cook until the liquid is absorbed (about 10 to 15 minutes).  Season with salt and pepper.  This jam can be prepared well before hand and reheated to room temperature when ready to serve. 

To cook the burgers:
Preheat the grill to high.  Spread the softened butter or margarine on the hamburger buns.  Shape the ground sirlion into 4 patties.  Season the patties with kosher salt, pepper and brush both sides with the canola oil.  When the grill his hot, place the burgers on the grill.  Grill for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until each side is crusty.  During the last minute of cooking, place 1 or 2 slices of blue cheese on each patty and cover the grill.  When the burgers are done to your liking, remove them from the grill to a platter and place the buttered hamburger buns on the grill.  Cook them until they just start to char.  This will only take a few minutes.

To serve, place some Dijon mustard on each side of the hamburger bun.  Place the burger on the bun.  Top with the red onion jam and greens and serve!  Enjoy with a craft brew or a glass of Cabernet.