Summer is here—Enjoy the Great Outdoors
Treat Dad to Juicy Pub-Style Burgers for Father’s Day
Juicy Pub-Style Burgers with Crispy Shallots, Blue Cheese, and Orchard Choice Fig Spread
Sirloin steak tips are also sold as flap meat. When stirring the butter and pepper into the ground meat and shaping the patties, take care not to overwork the meat or the burgers will become dense.
Serves 4
2 pounds sirloin steak tips, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
3 thinly sliced shallots
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
Salt and Pepper
4 ounces blue cheese
4 tablespoons Orchard Choice Organic Mission California Fig Spread or Orchard Choice Port Wine California Fig Spread
4 hamburger buns, toasted and buttered
Place beef chunks on baking sheet in single layer. Freeze meat until very firm and starting to harden around edges but still pliable, about 35 minutes. While beef is in freezer, heat 1/2 cup vegetable oil and shallots in medium saucepan over high heat; cook, stirring frequently, until shallots are golden, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer shallots to towel-lined plate, season with salt, and set aside.
Place one-quarter of meat in food processor and pulse until finely ground into 1/16-inch pieces, about 35 one-second pulses, stopping and redistributing meat around bowl as necessary to ensure beef is evenly ground. Transfer meat to second baking sheet. Repeat grinding with remaining 3 batches of meat. Spread meat over sheet and inspect carefully, discarding any long strands of gristle or large chunks of hard meat or fat.
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Drizzle melted butter over ground meat and add 1 teaspoon pepper. Gently toss with fork to combine. Divide meat into 4 lightly packed balls. Gently flatten into patties 3/4 inch thick and about 4 1/2 inches in diameter. Refrigerate patties until ready to cook. (Patties can be refrigerated, covered, for up to 1 day.)
Season 1 side of patties liberally with salt and pepper. Using spatula, flip patties and season other side. Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over high heat until just smoking. Using spatula, transfer burgers to skillet and cook without moving for 2 minutes. Using spatula, flip burgers and cook for 2 minutes longer. Transfer patties to rimmed baking sheet, top each with 1 ounce crumbled blue cheese, and bake until instant-read thermometer inserted into burger registers 125 degrees for medium-rare or 130 degrees for medium, 3 to 6 minutes.
Transfer burgers to plate and let rest for 5 minutes. Spread 1 tablespoon fig spread on top of each bun. Transfer burgers to buns. Top burgers with crispy shallots, and serve.
Recipe courtesy of Cook’s Country from America’s Test Kitchen. Valley Fig Growers is a proud sponsor of Cook’s Country TV.
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It’s love at first bite when sweet figs join sassy balsamic vinegar and spicy black pepper. Brighten up cheese trays, garnish grilled meats…the possibilities are endless.
“Try ‘Em, You’ll Like ‘Em” Healthy Lifestyle Tips
Take steps every day to live a safe and healthy life. So far in 2015 we’ve offered tips to:
- Be a healthy role model
- Choose healthy fats
- Make sensible snacks a part of your plan
- Wise Up
- Make Minerals Mighty
For June, embark on a healthy summer by using a shopping list filled with a variety of healthy foods. There are many benefits to making and using a shopping list. Top of mind—a shopping list can be your ticket to a healthy weight. New research suggests that regularly using a grocery list can be key to maintaining a healthier diet.
List foods and beverages that are high in nutritional value and lower in calories; skip the junk food and heavily processed foods. Does your list have lots of variety—textures, colors, scents and tastes? Are California Figs on your list? Remember, dried figs are great for a healthy snack since they are filled with fiber and lots of essential vitamins and minerals. When you go to the grocery store, take your list and stick to it. Avoid impulse buys. Keeping healthy foods on hand will help you control hunger, maximize nutritional intake and reach a healthy weight gradually.
