Broccoli Rabe Pesto and Gorgonzola Burger
Broccoli Rabe Pesto Ingredients
1 clove of garlic
3/4 cup Walnuts or Pignoli nuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pkg Verdurabrand Broccoli Rabe
½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Evoo)
Pesto Preparation: Heat Broccoli Rabe per instructions. Let cool. In a small food processor, add one clove of fresh garlic and process to a fine consistency. Next add Walnuts or Pignoli nuts and process to fine consistency. Add cooled Sautéed Broccoli Rabe then process to pesto like consistency. Next add salt and Evoo. Process again until oil is fully incorporated. Set aside ¾ cup of pesto for burger mixture and place remaining pesto in refrigerator for spreading on grilled bread later. This can be made a day in advance.
Burger Ingredients
2-1/4 lb ground beef brisket (for 6 burgers)
1 and 1/2 Teaspoons of Kosher Salt
1 and 1/2 Teaspoons freshly ground Black Pepper
¾ cup of Broccoli Rabe Pesto *
3/4 cup Crumbled Gorgonzola
Burger Preparation: In a bowl, place ground brisket. Add salt, cracked pepper, 3/4 cup of rabe pesto and crumbled gorgonzola cheese. Mix thoroughly incorporating the pesto and gorgonzola. Gently form the mixture into six 4 inch patties by rolling into a ball then flattening. Set aside patties until grilling begins. If done prior and refrigerated, remove from refrigerator 15 minutes prior to grilling. After grilling the bread, place burgers on grill over moderately high heat, turning once, until the patties are nicely charred outside and medium-to-medium rare (4-6 minutes per side).
Bread Ingredients
Twelve 3/4 inch slices of Peasant Bread
¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil for brushing
1/2 teaspoon of Kosher Salt
Bread preparation: Heat grill. Cut peasant bread (“Filone” or Ciabatta) into twelve 1/2 ” slices. In a small bowl add evoo and salt. Mix slightly with brush. Next lightly brush slices (both sides) of bread with oil mixture. Place on grill, turning once, until lightly browned on each side. About 1 minute per side. Grill marks welcome.
Topping & Presentation
12 Ounces of Chopped Sautéed Broccoli Rabe*
3 Teaspoons Crumbled Gorgonzola
Broccoli Rabe Pesto (remaining from earlier)
For presentation: On a large serving plate or 6 individual plates, place 12 slices of the grilled bread in pairs of two. Once grilled, transfer the pesto burgers to one slice of the bread and top with 2 ounces of Broccoli Rabe and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon each of crumbled gorgonzola On the other slice, spread entire slice with pesto. Place pesto slice on top of burger and cut evenly in half. Repeat for each burger. Enjoy!