Goat Cheese Stuffed Burger

Ingredients:

• 1 lb grass-fed ground beef

• 4 tbsp goat cheese

• 1 sprig rosemary, chopped

• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion

• 1 egg, beaten

• 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 1/2 tsp ground sage

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes

• pinch of cayenne

• 1 avocado, thinly slice

• sliced green onions for serving, optional

• 4 hamburger buns

• mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard - for serving

1. In a small bowl, combine salt, paprika, sage, garlic powder, black pepper, pepper flakes and cayenne.

2. Form goat cheese into 4 balls of equal size. Flatten into a patty about 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Set aside.

3. Place beef into a large bowl, add rosemary, egg, breadcrumbs and seasonings. Using a fork, mix ingredients into beef. Divide into 4 equal portions and form into balls.

4. Make an opening in the ball and place goat cheese in; cover cheese completely with the meat. Flatten ball in your palm to form a nice patty about 1 to 1 1/4 inches.

5. Grill on an electric grill (George Foreman Grill) for 3 minutes per side.

6. Lightly toast hamburger buns; spread mayonnaise on bun. Place a burger patty on bun and top with a few slices of avocado and green onion.

7. Serve with a salad of your choice.

Serves: 4

Notes&Tips:

• This Goat Cheese Stuffed Burger was moist and delicious. The bold rosemary and tangy goat cheese qualifies this burger as a gourmet burger. The flavors melded beautifully. And added to all that, avocado, which complemented the overall flavors of the burger.

• After forming your patty, be sure there are no hole or gaps in the meat or your cheese will leak out as it cooks.

• Another way to stuff the cheese in the burger is to poke a hole in the center of the ball then place your cheese in. In which case, you do not need to form the goat cheese into a patty. My reason for forming the goat cheese into a patty is that the cheese is then able to be in a larger portion of the burger.

• I used grass-fed ground beef, but whatever ground beef you procure should work just fine. I have even used lean ground beef with this recipe before.

• Since it's winter, I cannot use my outdoor grill, so I had to pull out the electric tabletop grill. I love cooking burgers and chicken wings on my electric grill. I always get them cooked just the way I want. This burger can also be cooked on the stove top in a cast iron skillet. Just be sure to get it nice and hot.