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  2. Italian Smash Burger Napolean

Italian Smash Burger Napolean

Savor this Italian-style Ground Beef burger with a bright and vibrant spinach-lemon pesto and a unique spicy and sweet beef jerky marmalade.

Cook Mode

Ingredients:

Cooking:

  1. Lightly shape Ground Beef into eight 1/2-inch thick slider patties. Place patties on griddle or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Using spatula, press burger against griddle. Midway through cooking, flip, press. Cook 8 to 10 minutes until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 160°F. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.
  2. Place patties on 4 lettuce leaves to form a cup, top with 1 tablespoon cheese, 1 tablespoon Spinach-Lemon Pesto, 1 tablespoon Beef Jerky Marmalade, another patty, 1 tablespoon cheese, 1 tablespoon Spinach-Lemon Pesto and 1 tablespoon Beef Jerky Marmalade. Garnish each stack with balsamic syrup, as desired.
    3. Cook's Tip:
    Spinach-Lemon Pesto: Place 2 cups fresh baby spinach, 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel (from 1/2 lemon) and 1 teaspoon minced garlic in food processor container. Cover, process until coarse paste forms. With motor running, slowly drizzle in 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons water through opening in cover, processing until smooth. 

    Beef Jerky Marmalade: Heat large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat until hot; spray with cooking spray. Add 1/3 cup chopped red onion; cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1/3 cup minced shallot and 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes until translucent. Add 3 tablespoons maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard and 1/2 teaspoon chile powder; bring to a boil. Add 1/4 cup sherry and 3 tablespoons brown sugar; stir to combine. When sugar is melted, reduce heat to medium. Add 8 ounces chopped beef jerky and cook about 5 minutes to reduce liquid to a thick glaze, stirring occasionally.

Nutrition Information

Safe Handling Tips

Beef Checkoff

Bourbon Blueberry & Brie Bacon Cheeseburger

Brian Capps of Louisville, KY, has been crowned the 2021 Derby Burger Champion in the 10th Annual Derby Burger Challenge. Capps’ burger, made with 100% Kentucky Cattlemen’s ground beef is packed with flavor. The patty is topped with brie, thick-cut bacon, a blueberry bourbon sauce and arugula - all on a brioche bun.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Kentucky Cattlemen’s Ground Beef
  • 4 Slices Bacon, thick sliced
  • 1/4 inch Sliced Brie Cheese, rind removed
  • 1 pint Fresh Blueberries
  • 1 Lemon, halved
  • 1/8 cup White Sugar
  • 2 tsp. Cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Bourbon
  • 2 Brioche Buns
  • 2 Tbsp. Salted Butter
  • Arugula 
  • ¼ tsp. Kosher Salt
  • ¼ tsp. Black Pepper

Recipe

1. Form Two Patties and Set Aside.

2. Preheat your skillet over medium high heat. Add butter, and sliced buns. Cook until golden brown, set aside.

3. Salt and pepper both sides of the burger patty, cook over medium high heat. Cook until internal temperature of 160°F (USDA recommended), add cheese before taking off heat until melted.

4. Add blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice into a small pot. Cook on medium to low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Slowly add your slurry mixture to thicken blueberry sauce. Remove mixture from heat and stir in your bourbon.

5. Build your burger. Place your burger patty with melted cheese, cooked bacon, blueberry sauce on the bottom bun. Top the burger with arugula and add the top bun.

6. Enjoy!

Find more delicious recipes and other ways to be involved in the Derby Burger Challenge HERE!