Basil Burgers with Roasted Tomatoes

This Italian-style recipe takes an unadulterated burger patty and tops it with mozzarella cheese, a fresh basil sauce, roasted grape tomatoes and red onion. Bursting with freshness, it’s incredibly juicy and delicious. The burger and tomato juices mingle with the basil sauce and make it kind of messy. Just the way I like them. Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down.

The original recipe calls for fresh tomatoes but as far as flavor goes a roasted tomato can’t compete. Especially a grape tomato that you can roast whole and keep the juices intact. A quick 20 minute roast transformed them into concentrated little flavor gems that popped open in my mouth in a rush of sweet and savory juices.

The basil sauce is rich and creamy with a hint of sweetness followed by a hit of pungency. It starts with a base of mayonnaise to which sour cream, fresh basil, garlic and Parmesan cheese are added. It worked double-duty as a dipping sauce for the oven-fried zucchini chips I served with them.

If you’re looking to hold onto the fresh flavors of summer just a little bit longer, the way I am, then this is the way to go. Packed with typical Italian flavors this was a truly memorable burger that I look forward to making…and eating again!

Basil and Roasted Tomato Burgers
(adapted from Melissa D’Arabian)

1 pint grape tomatoes or about 1+1/2 – 2 cups
olive oil
sea or kosher salt and ground black pepper
1 + 1/4 pounds ground beef (80-85% lean)
1 + 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
4 hamburger buns, toasted
1/4 cup red onion, diced
Basil sauce (recipe below)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 pan and add grape tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Use you hands to massage the oil into the tomatoes. Roast for 20-25 minutes or until tomatoes begin to ‘deflate’ and wrinkle up.

2. Divide the ground beef evenly into 4 patties, make a small indent in the middle of each and season with salt and pepper. Cook the burger in whatever way desired, topping each one with 1/3 cup of mozzarella cheese.

3. Top each bun with a burger, then a spoon or two of basil sauce followed by roasted tomatoes and diced onion. Serve with additional basil sauce on the side for dipping.

Basil Sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons sour cream
3 tablespoons fresh basil, rough chopped
1 scallion, chopped
1/2 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
sea or kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste

In a blender or food processor combine all ingredients except salt and pepper, puree until creamy. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Printable Recipe

I’m linking this to Heather of Girlichef’s Hearth ‘n Soul event.

I need your help! I’m competing to be the next Food Blog Star in a competition sponsored by Foodbuzz.  Please vote for me! You don’t need a Foodbuzz account to vote – you can log-in using your Facebook or Twitter account. My entry is posted here if you missed it. Click on badge below to vote. Thank-you for your support!

foodie_views_submit_or_vote();