Prep time:  45 mins | Cook time:  15 mins

Total time:  1 hr | Serves: 4

​

Ingredients Ribeye Burger

• 1 1/2 lb ground Ribeye steak

• 8 oz pork cracklings

• 2 tsp salt

• 1 tsp freshly-ground black pepper

• 8 oz brie cheese, rind removed and sliced

​

Ingredients Bacon-Black Garlic Chutney

• 8 oz applewood-smoked bacon, diced

• 1 cup vidalia onion, diced

• 4 clove fermented black garlic

• 1/2 cup bourbon

• 1/2 cup aged balsamic vinegar

• 1/2 cup dried figs, chopped

• 1/2 cup no-sugar-added fig preserves

• 1 tsp chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped

• 1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves

• 1/4 tsp sea salt

• 1/8 tsp freshly-ground black pepper

​

Ingredients Radicchio & Fennel Slaw

• 2 cup radicchio, sliced thinly

• 1 cup fennel bulb, sliced thinly

• 2 Tbsp homemade or good-quality, store-bought mayonnaise (recipe follows)

• 1 tsp sea salt

• 1/2 tsp freshly-ground black pepper

​

Ingredients Homemade Mayonnaise

• 1 large egg yolk

• 2 Tbsp champagne vinegar

• 2 tsp dijon mustard

• 1/4 tsp garlic, grated

• 1 Tbsp honey

• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/4 tsp sea salt

• 1/8 tsp freshly-ground black pepper

​

Ingredient Spicy Sweet Potato Sticks

• 1 qt oil for deep-frying

• 1 large sweet potato, cut into thin sticks

• 1 Tbsp chipotle-cinnamon grill seasoning (or any seasoning you prefer)

• 4 black sesame brioche buns (or bun of your preference)

• 2 Tbsp bacon fat

​

Instructions

1. Combine the steak, cracklings, salt and pepper and form into four patties with a slight indentation in the middle. Set aside until ready to grill.

2. Cook the bacon in an 8-inch, non-stick saute pan over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon bits with a slotted spoon onto paper towels. Reserve two tablespoons of the fat to baste the buns.

3. Add the onion and black garlic to the pan and cook, stirring often, until the onions are soft, about 3-5 minutes.

4. While the onions are cooking, place the bourbon, balsamic vinegar and the dried figs into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds, just until the figs plump up and absorb the liquid.

5. Add the dried fig mixture, the preserves, chipotle peppers, thyme, salt and pepper to the onions and cook, stirring often, for five minutes longer. Remove from the heat and stir in the bacon bits. Set aside until ready to assemble burgers.

6. To make the mayonnaise, place the yolk, vinegar, dijon, garlic and honey into a blender. Slowly drip in the oil with the motor running until the mixture resembles mayonnaise. Add the salt and pepper.

7. Mix together the slaw ingredients and set aside until ready to assemble the burgers.

8. Heat the oil in a 3-quart, deep-sided pan over medium-high heat. Drop the sweet potato sticks into the hot oil and cook until golden brown and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Season while hot with the grill seasoning.

9. Grill the burgers over medium-high heat to desired doneness, 2-3 minutes per side for medium. Top with the cheese and tent with aluminum foil to keep warm and melt the cheese.

10. Spread the cut-side of each bun with bacon fat and grill, fat-side-down, for 1-2 minutes until golden and crisp.

11. To assemble the burgers, spread mayonnaise onto the bottom bun. Top with a patty, the slaw and some sweet potato sticks. Spread the chutney onto the top bun and top the burger.

​

​​