Northern Italian Trattoria Burger Food

ITALIAN BURGER

Steps:

• Gently toss together the chuck and sirloin in a large bowl, making sure not to overwork the mixture.
• Combine the dried parsley, fennel seed, granulated garlic and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the beef along, with the Parmesan, and fold gently to combine. Form the beef into four 3/4-inch-thick patties, each about 4 inches in diameter. Sprinkle each generously with salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
• Place the patties in the hot skillet; do not press down with a spatula. When the patties are seared and browned on one side, about 3 1/2 minutes, flip and cook on the other side until browned and the burgers are medium-rare, about 3 1/2 minutes.
• Split the hamburger buns. Arrange some arugula on the bottom buns and top each with a slice of tomato, a burger patty and a dollop of pesto. Top with the top halves of the rolls Serve with giardiniera.
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NORTHERN-STYLE RIBS

Steps:

• Prepare your smoker or grill for barbecuing, using the indirect heat setup with a drip pan in place, and preheat to 210 degrees F. Pat the ribs dry, then season with the salt.
• Pour some water in the drip pan and place some presoaked wood chunks or a packet of presoaked wood chips directly on the hot coals. Oil the hot grate and place the ribs in your grill or smoker, meat side up. Cover and smoke for a total of 6 hours. After about 5 hours, begin to baste the ribs with the BBQ Sauce about every 20 minutes. The ribs are done when the meat cracks when picked up (with tongs) and they reach an internal temperature of 170 to 180 degrees F.
• To finish the ribs, throw them on the grill over direct medium heat to let the sauce caramelize. Baste between turns, and you're done.
• This is our core sauce based on the western North Carolina style. It's a good idea to keep extra in the fridge because it goes well with everything from fries to chicken fingers. Whisk all the ingredients together in a nonreactive saucepan, place over medium-high heat, and bring to a boil.
• Lower the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until the sauce just coats the back of a wooden spoon--it's not intended to be overly thick.
• Cool and use immediately or store for later use in the fridge, where it will keep for 2 to 3 months.