1771. WILDFLOWER HONEY MUSTARD, BALSAMIC, APPLEWOOD BACON and PROVOLONE BURGERS

4 slices applewood smoked bacon
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 medium shallot, chopped
1 tsp. chopped garlic
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup wildflower honey (or any local honey)
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. kosher or sea salt
1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
4 (6 oz.) beef sirloin patties
1 medium sweet yellow or red onion, cut into 8 slices
Kosher or sea salt
fresh ground pepper
8 slices provolone cheese
4 ciabatta or whole wheat buns

Cook bacon until crisp. Remove to paper towel and reserve 1 tablespoon bacon fat.

In a small sauce pan over medium heat, cook balsamic vinegar, shallot and garlic. Reduce until 2 tablespoons are left. Pour into mixing bowl and cool. Add mayonnaise, honey, Dijon mustard, bacon fat, salt and pepper. Chill.

Season beef patties and sliced onion with salt and pepper. Place on grill and cook burgers to 160°F and onions until soft and caramelized. Top each burger with 2 onion slices, bacon and 2 slices cheese and allow to melt. Grill buns lightly and drizzle each side with honey mustard. Place burgers on buns and drizzle with one extra tablespoon honey mustard. Serve.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Sargento Cheese, Sargento Foods Inc., One Persnickety Place, Plymouth, Wisconsin 53073