Italian Burgers

As I was making hamburgers for our Labor Day meal, I looked around the pantry to see what I could come up with to season the meat.  (My family knows that I NEVER  make hamburgers the same way twice.  EVER.)  I saw I had a lot of basil, onions, and some garlic left from the two Italian packs I contributed for at Bountiful Baskets …. and that case of Roma tomatoes I just got…. and WHA-LA.  Italian burgers were made!  I got so excited about the idea because I just love basil. LOVE it!

My husband and daughter loved them, and I have to say that this may be my favorite burger recipe to date!

So, here’s what I did! 

Ingredients

• 3 pounds ground beef
• 1 small onion, half chopped and half sliced
• 4 cloves of minced garlic
• 1/8 cup (approximately) finely chopped basil leaves
• 1 1/2 tsp CREOLE seasoning ( I used Tony Cachere's ~ Weird, I know)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 slices mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. Break up ground beef in large mixing bowl.
2. Add all ingredients except cheese and SLICED onions, mixing very well by hand. Usually until beef starts to stick together and hold shape.
3. Shape into four equal sized patties. (There will be about one large handful of meat mixture left over. I used this to make a dozen and a half meatballs to freeze for further use.)
4. Place in hot grill pan along with sliced onions surrounding the burgers, and cook until they reach desired doneness, only flipping once.
5. Add mozzarella cheese to the tops of the burgers during the last few minutes so they can melt.
6. Serve and top however you like it! I used lettuce, tomato and grilled onions.

Try topping the burgers with your own favorite Italian ingredients such as marinara or fried eggplant.  You might just surprise yourself and find a new addiction!