Savory Hamburger Topped With Fig Jam, Goat Cheese & Arugula

You’re sure to thoroughly enjoy an unconventional twist on the American hamburger thanks to this deliciously sweet and savory burger recipe from Food52. This particular recipe is so popular on the recipe blog because it combines the diverse, sensational flavors of spicy beef, sweet fig jam, tangy goat cheese, and the earth-flavored arugula to create an unforgettable hamburger. Whether you’re enjoying it on a porch, patio, kitchen table, or beside a pool, it’s reliable and always enjoyable, and this is great news because the deliciousness of this meal cannot be stopped or lessened if it is cooked on a barbecue grill or cast-iron skillet.

Some of the unconventional toppings found in this hamburger recipe are from the chef’s love for those unusual toppings, such as peanut butter or apples, that have made their way onto various hamburger patties nationwide in a semi-recent trend. What’s resulted is a meal that’s not light on flavor, but because of the various textures and diverse tastes coming together, you’re not left overwhelmed as a result. Instead, you’re left wanting more having enjoyed your first (of possible many helpings).

Ingredients:

2 hamburger buns

½ pound of ground beef (fat percentage to your liking)

½ to 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes

¼ teaspoon of onion powder

¼ teaspoon of garlic powder

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 to 3 tablespoons of fig jam (freshly canned, if available)

2 ounces of goat cheese (fresh)

1 handful of arugula

1 teaspoon of olive oil

Recipe:

  1. You’ll begin this recipe by preheating your oven to 350° F. While this is heating up, place a sheet of oven-safe parchment paper onto a baking sheet. When the oven is at 350° F, place your hamburger buns face down onto the sheet tray, and toast them in the oven for approximately 10 minutes. Be watchful throughout and careful so as to not burn them.
  2. While the buns are toasting, take out a small mixing bowl, drizzle some olive oil over your arugula, and season it with salt and pepper. Then give it a toss.
  3. Then, grab another mixing bowl and combine your ground beef with salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. While you can use a safe cooking utensil to mix these ingredients, many burger chefs prefer to use their hands to mix the meat with the seasoning. You’ll want to mix the ingredients together and then form two solid beef patties. You can be gloved throughout this process, but either way, you should follow the handling and mixing of raw meat with a thorough washing of your wrists, arms, and hands with soap and water before touching anything else.
  4. Now it’s time to prepare your cooking surface. Obviously, this meal can be best prepared on a lit grill, but if you’re cooking on the stovetop, you’ll want to heat your cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Melt your butter or oil in the skillet and then carefully place your patties into the pan. If the skillet’s properly heated, you’ll hear an auditory sizzle as you cook the patties for approximately 2 to 3 minutes before you flip them over. Note: your cooking time will vary depending on the particular thickness of your patties, so do consider utilizing a meat thermometer.
  5. After they’re flipped, place some goat cheese on top of each patty in order to warm and soften the cheese. Follow this by cooking the second side for 2 to 3 minutes.
  6. Lastly, it’s time to assemble your meal! Spread the fig jam on the bottom bun to prevent too much of a mess, put your patty on top, and then put the arugula between the cheese-topped burger and your top bun.
  7. Enjoy!

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Ideal 2021 Summer Barbecue Menu

The ideal weather conditions found in the summertime often bring along a tendency to attend or host social outings involving the great culinary staple that is the summer barbecue. Whether you find yourself hosting your own backyard BBQ buffet or simply bringing a dish to your local block party, these recipes from Olive Magazine for easy-to-make BBQ dishes are sure to put you at ease this summer.

Preparing the Grill

Before getting into specific recipes for main, side, and dessert dishes, Olive’s article begins with a refresher course on how to best cook your BBQ meats atop the versatile cooking instrument that is a gas or charcoal-based barbecue grill.

  1. Begin preparing your grill early by lighting the coals early (use the contents of a charcoal bag 1/3rd at a time) or getting your gas grill’s temperature up before rushing to get the seasoned meats atop a premature grill. Preparing the barbecue is a game of patience and restraint, as it’s integral to the grilling process to always have your meats heated by an even, unwavering temperature setting.
  2. While you’ll diversify the preparation of your BBQ meat products across your individual recipes, it’s always a good idea to take an account of the cuts of your meats (particularly brisket), as you’ll want to keep any fat attached to your cuts. The fat portions contribute to the moisture of your meat throughout the grilling  process, and they can always be removed later.
  3. Lastly, you should “prepare your battle stations” by ensuring you have your supply of spatulas, grill scrapers, and meat thermometers handy near the grill. The internal temperature of cooked meat is something that should never be left up to guessing, so play it safe and check the temperature of your meats be they brisket, beef, pork, or chicken.

The following are several easy-to-prepare recipes that are sure to please the appetites of any BBQ you’re attending or hosting.

Entrees:

Spicy BBQ Chicken Kebabs w/ Grilled Pineapple

One recipe that’s “out-of-the-ordinary” when it comes to a BBQ menu is this spicy kebab that combines the flavor profiles of spicy, grilled chicken with grilled pineapple. Depending on your situation, these can be played on a serving platter and used as a knockout appetizer, or they can be placed alongside some noodles or rice to be a celebrated main dish. Seriously, the red chilies and hot smoked paprika make this grilled chicken incredibly flavorful and spicy, and once it’s skewered alongside the caramelized, grilled pineapple and topped with mint, you’ll be the talk of the grill.

Whole Chilli and Lemongrass Sea Bream

Try something new and forgo the chicken, beef, and pork that get all the attention and try out this tenderedbarbecue sea bream that packs a powerful punch. This recipe’s marinade has a lemongrass base that is accompanied by ginger, lime, fish sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, shallots, and red chilies; the combination of sweet and sour flavors in the marinade make for an excellently delicious flavor profile. Take a chance by grilling this fish from the Vietnam cooking tradition and truly impress the audience at your next barbecue.

Sides:

BBQ Corn on the Cob

This recipe slightly tweaks a barbecue classic in the best way with a specific combination of seasonings and a Korean gochujang sauce. Using only twenty total minutes of preparation and grilling time, you’ll prepare your sauce with a combination of mayonnaise, sour cream, feta cheese, lime, chili paste, smoked paprika, and coriander. Though the sauce is often the star of the show, feel free to separate it from your grilled corn or only dress half of the stalks with the sauce in order to give your guests choice in the matter.

Herb, Watermelon, and Rice Noodle Salad

This refreshing summer salad is the perfect “light” alternative to the heftiness of the summer BBQ, as it is centered around a delicious herbal medley. The salad itself combines the flavors of watermelon, mint, Thai basil, coriander, spring onions, and sesame seeds with the specific textures of both bean sprouts and rice vermicelli noodles for a truly pleasing summer side dish. The dressing, though simple, is also sure to please and not weigh down those who eat it like a BBQ brisket would, as it’s only made of rice wine vinegar, fish sauce, caster sugar, and bird’s-eye chili.

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Ten Savory Recipes Ideal for the Backyard Grill

This summer, more and more families are relishing in the outdoor environment for entertainment, community, and of course, utilizing the backyard grill. Chef John, an acclaimed grill master shares over a dozen delicious grill-ready recipes as a part of an AllReceipes.com series. The recipes included in this series are ideal for a family and friends grilling event.

Grilled Five Spice Chicken

Chef John’s take on a popular Southeast Asian grilled chicken dish is composed of a marinade with five-spice seasoning, lime juice, ginger, garlic, chile sauce, fish sauce, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. One look at the simple, yet brightly colored sauce will have you salivating at this classic, flavorful chicken.

Grilled Swordfish Bruschetta

Two simple, yet essential keys to this receipt are revealed by Chef John to unlock this dish’s optimal flavor. “First, add enough oil and vinegar to your tomatoes to make a good amount of ‘sauce’ with which to douse the grilled fish and bread. Second, grill the bread very well over the coals. It should be golden brown with distinctive charred grill marks. The bitter hit from these stripes of charred bread actually makes the tomatoes even sweeter and more delicious.” This swordfish is perfect for mixing things up when cooking on your backyard grill. 

Grilled Mongolian Pork Chops

These mongolian pork chops are made possible with a flavorful marinade that combines sweet, spicy, and sour ingredients, including three types of vinegar, hot sauce, and sugar. This marinade is ideal for thicker pork chops.

Grilled Korean-Style Beef Short Ribs

Great Korean short ribs really rely on thinly-sliced beef. These cuts will only be on the grill for a few hot minutes preside, and the key to succulent beef short ribs is the Asian pear marinade with rice vinegar, sherry wine, poison sauce, samba hot sauce, and sesame oil.

Grilled Garlic and Herb Shrimp

For this backyard grill recipe’s best flavor, it’s recommended that you obtain extra-large shrimp, so that, as Chef john says, “they can grill longer and get maximum caramelization.” This recipe includes a quickly-prepared, fresh herb sauce to drizzle over your grilled shrimp.

Grilled Game Hens

This receives simple marinade is made with jalapeño and habanero peppers, which bring real heat to this summer treat. If unable to find Cornish Hens, chicken drumsticks are substitute-friendly.

Grilled Lamb with Mint Orange Sauce

These story lamb chops are flavored with Mediterranean herbs and spices, inviting you to finish them off with orange marmalade, chili flakes, rice vinegar, and fresh mint for impeccable taste.  Perfect for the backyard grill and your family will think you are a 5 star chef. 

Grilled Greek Chicken

Simple grilled chicken isn’t bland, if prepared the right way, by maximizing flavor when incorporating a very powerful marinade and roasting the chicken over semi-indirect heat from the grill.

Laotian Grilled Chicken (Ping Gai)

This asian-inspired recipe for chicken marinade is composed of cilantro, soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and pepper to produce a sweet, garlicky dipping sauce for unforgettable, flavorful backyard grilled chicken.

Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Spicy Mango Sauce

Top off this grilled mahi-mahi with a summer favorite, mango with with spicy has-inspired mango sauce. This sauce is quick to prepare and is perfectly spicy, brightly flavored, and versatile, as it’s just as delicious when paired with swordfish, salmon, tuna, or other fish and grilled meat.

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Grilled Summer Salmon Recipe

Summer is coming to an end, but that does not mean your taste buds should suffer! Salmon is the perfect solution. It is a perfect source of protein and if you’re lacking in vitamin B this might be the perfect recipe for you. Check out this Grilled Crispy-Skinned Salmon with Whole Lemon-Sesame Sauce posted by bon appetit. It gives the chef the best excuse to use the grill one last time before summer ends and it has to be put away. Not only is this recipe refreshing but it is also filling and a great way to show off your grilling skills.

INSTRUCTIONS

UTENSILS/TOOLS FOR SUMMER SALMON

  • A grill
  •  A small mixing bowl
  • Plates

DIRECTIONS

The first step before preparing the food is to prepare the grill. In order to cook the perfect grilled crispy-skinned salmon, the grill needs to be on medium heat. Depending on your grill this can mean a few different things. Make sure to check out the settings or pick up a bag of charcoal before setting up the prepping station. The salmon fillets will also need to be prepared before cooking. Take 2 of the 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and rub the oil into the salmon. Season each side of all the fillets with kosher salt.

Take the small lemon and cut each of the ends off. Place the lemon on one of the flat sides; cut the lemon in four sections. The core should be left in the middle in the shape of a square. Chop up the four sections, chopping up even the skin, making sure it is finely chopped. Pace this into the small mixing bowl. Add the honey, shallot, ⅓ cup of extra virgin olive oil, sesame seeds, and sesame oil into the bowl as well. Season the mixture with kosher salt and a decent amount of freshly ground black pepper. Make sure it is mixed together well, you do not want any clumps of seasoning.

The grate on the grill needs to be cleaned before use. Once you clean the grate, oil it. The most important part is that you place the salmon on the grill with the skin side down right after oiling it. Cover the grill once the salmon is placed on it and do not flip the fillets. They should cook for about 6 to 8 minutes; making sure the skin is slightly charred. Always check that the fish is opaque before taking it off of the grill.

Place the salmon fillets on a plate and let them cool a little. Plate the fillets individually and spoon the lemon-sesame sauce over each one. Serve on a bed of brown rice or even quinoa for a protein packed meal.

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Grilled Bison Burgers Worth Trying

Are you tired of your basic beef burger? Look to Allrecipes for a delicious alternative: Grilled Bison Burgers! Bison are North America’s largest land animals, and for hundreds of years, bison have served as the most significant animal to many North American indigenous peoples. Skins were used for clothing and shelter, bones used for broths and then tools, and meat for plentiful meals and fat for making things like soap. Each animal typically weighs anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 tons, depending on sex. A bison typically stands at a stature of 6 to 6.5 feet tall and 10 to 12.5 feet long. The hump between a bison’s shoulder is made up of muscle, supported by long vertebrae.

Low in fat, grilled bison burgers contain 90% lean and only 10% fat. Bison meat can be found in many grocery stores, warehouse retailers, natural food stores, local butcher shops, and online. If you have difficulty locating bison meat near you, BisonFinder is the first app dedicated to locating quality bison meat and byproducts near you. It can be downloaded from the iTunes or Google Play stores for free.

For this particular recipe, you will require an outdoor grill, a bowl, a baking sheet, aluminum foil, and a meat thermometer.

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

Begin by preparing the outdoor grill. First, lightly oil the grate of the grill with olive oil cooking spray. Preheat the grill to a high heat. For safe cooking conditions, a good rule of thumb to follow is to allow the grill to heat for about 15 minutes before beginning any grilling.

As your grill preheats, use this time to make your bison patties. If not yet ground, grind your bison meat. Once this is complete, take your ground bison meat, Panko crumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic, and pepper and mix them together by hand in a bowl. Separate the resulting mixture into fourths, forming 4 patties. Place the patties on your baking sheet and cover them with aluminum foil. Refrigerate until chilled. This should take approximately 15 minutes.

Once chilled, uncover the patties and spray them with some olive oil cooking spray and place them on the grill. Grill until hot and slightly pink in the center, spending about 5 minutes per side. Add a slice of cheese atop each burger and continue cooking for a couple more minutes, or enough time for the cheese to melt depending on how well you wish your burger to be cooked. Test your meat’s safety by measuring the center of your burger with a meat thermometer. It should read 140 degrees Fahrenheit, or 60 degrees Celsius, when inserted into the center of the bison burger.

Finish your burger with a bun and any other garnishes you would like.

Lastly, enjoy this fresh take on the burger!

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