GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED LAMB BURGERS WITH CARAMELIZED RED ONIONS

Goat Cheese-Stuffed Lamb Burgers with Caramelized Red Onions image

Provided by Dennis Prescott

Yield Makes 4 burgers

Number Of Ingredients 19

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Caramelized onions:
1 tablespoon butter
1 large red onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup dark beer
Lamb burgers:
1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1/3 cup goat cheese
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 burger buns
4 tablespoons Spicy Herb Mayo
4 slices cooked bacon
1 cup baby arugula

Steps:

Make the onions:
In a 3-quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and salt, toss to combine, and cover. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring several times to ensure that the onion does not stick to the pan. Add the beer, stir, cover, and cook for 10 minutes. If the onion is deeply caramelized and the liquid has mostly evaporated, it's perfection. If not, cook for a few minutes more. Set aside.
Make the burgers:
In a large bowl, combine the lamb, garlic, smoked paprika, cayenne, and mint. Mix well. Set aside 4 tablespoons of the lamb mixture and divide the remaining lamb into four equal portions. Shape them into patties slightly larger than the width of the burger bun. Using your thumb, make a well in the center of each patty, going halfway through the lamb.
Divide the goat cheese into four portions and place them in the thumb divots. Flatten each tablespoon of reserved burger mixture into a disc and place on top of the goat cheese. Pinch the edges to encase the cheese in the lamb. Season both sides of each patty with salt and pepper.
In a large skillet, melt the butter with the olive oil over medium heat. Fry the burgers for 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium doneness.
Place the burgers on the buns and top each with 1 tablespoon mayo, some caramelized onions, bacon, and 1/4 cup arugula.