Morel Burgers
Who says you can't have great burgers all
year long?
Winter isn't usually the time when most
people think of burgers, but just because the
weather is chilly doesn't mean you have to
forgo a hearty, delicious - and healthy burger.
Lean, low-fat beef gets a flavor
boost and moist, juicy texture from
reconstituted dried morel mushrooms. With so
few calories & fat, you
can even afford to top your burger with
some good country bacon and Swiss cheese
Reconstitute the dried morels in lukewarm water, sufficient to cover, for about 20 minutes. When plump and pliable, drain the morels (reserving the liquid for other use) and rinse them well. Pat them dry and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a pan and briefly sauté the onion and reconstituted morels until the onion is softened and slightly browned. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
In a large bowl, gently mix the ground beef with the sauteed morels & onions. Be careful not to break up the morels. Add salt and pepper to taste. Divide the burger mixture into 4 equal portions and gently form into patties.
Cut the bacon strips in half. Place in a non-stick frying pan and cook over medium-high heat, turning frequently, unti crisp. Drain on paper towels and set aside. Keep warm.
Preheat the broiler. Place the burger patties on a foil-lined broiler pan and brush both sides lightly with olive oil. Broil the burgers until browned on top, about 4 minutes. Turn the burgers and continue to cook second side until browned, about another 2 minutes. (Note: Lean beef cooks much more quickly than regular beef - be careful not to overcook.)
Place one strip of bacon on the top of each burger patty, then top with 1/4 of the cheese. Return to the broiler for 30 seconds or just until the cheese begins to melt. Remove from the broiler
Spread horseradish-mayonnaise on the buns. Place the burgers on the buns, top with lettuce and serve.
Horseradish Mayonnaise: Mix the prepared horseradish and the mayonnaise thoroughly. Add a pinch of salt if desired.
Note: We used the smallest morels we could find (1 inch or less in length) and left them whole. If you decide to use larger morels, you'll need to slice them crossways after reconstituting.