3002. BEEF, BARBECUE PULLED PORK and BACON BURGERS (a.k.a. Filthy Burgers)

yields between 6 and 8 burgers, depending on size 

1/2 pound of bacon, cooked until crisp through, drained and crumbled

2 cups fully cooked barbecue pulled pork roughly chopped with a knife

1 1/2 pounds ground chuck

kosher salt

For serving:

toasted burger buns

tender lettuce (like mixed spring greens or butter lettuce)

slices of pepperjack or Monterey jack cheese

barbecue sauce

Mix together the ground chuck, pulled pork, and bacon until everything is evenly distributed. 

For the most uniform burgers, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add 5 ounces of the meat mixture to a ring mold and gently press it into the edges of the mold forming a uniformly thick burger patty. Gently pull the ring mold straight up and tap down any edges that come up with it. Replace the ring mold on the parchment next to the burger and form another until all the meat mixture has been pressed into patties.

Place the tray with the burgers in the refrigerator while you preheat the grill to MEDIUM HIGH heat. After cleaning the hot grill, gently place the burgers over direct heat and sprinkle with kosher salt. Keep a spray bottle of water handy for flare-ups. Do not move the burgers once you've placed them on the grill until the brown (cooked) area goes at least halfway up the burger and you can easily slide your spatula under them, about 4 minutes. If there are flames flaring up because of fat from the burger, give them a little spritz with water. That should help long enough to cook the burger to the point where it will turn more easily. Flip the burgers carefully and continue grilling over MEDIUM HIGH heat until there are grill marks on the underside of the burger. Transfer the burgers over to one side of the grill and shut off the burners immediately under the burgers, turning the remaining burners onto MEDIUM LOW heat. This means your burgers will finish over indirect heat. When the interior temperature of the beef is 5°F below the point you like it (RARE: 125-130°F. MEDIUM: 140-150. WELL: 160-212°F.), lay the slices of pepperjack cheese on the burgers and use a spatula to immediately transfer them to a sided tray. Let them rest, lightly tented with foil, until the cheese is melted. Serve on top of tender greens on a toasted bun with as much barbecue sauce as you fancy!

bacon recipe courtesy of: Rebecca Lindamood, Foodie with Family, May 31, 2013