Smoky Bison Burger Food

PORTOBELLO BISON BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Combine bison, cumin, oregano, thyme, and chipotle in a bowl. Add mushrooms, Cheddar cheese, and onion; mix until well distributed. Season with salt and pepper. Divide mixture evenly into 4 sections and shape into patties.
• Place patties on grill and reduce heat slightly. Grill until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip over and grill until other side is browned, 3 to 4 minutes more. Serve on toasted whole wheat buns.

BIG SMOKEY BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.
• Combine ground sirloin, onion, grill seasoning, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, adobo sauce, and chipotle pepper in a large bowl. Form the mixture into 6 patties. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place burgers on preheated grill and cook until no longer pink in the center. Place a slice of Cheddar cheese on top of each burger one minute before they are ready. Place burgers on buns to serve.

SMOKY BEER BURGERS WITH CREAMY MUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat grill over medium-high heat.
• Place the meat in a bowl and add the cheese. Peel the onion and halve it, if using the medium onion. Grate about 3 to 4 tablespoons of onion directly over the meat into the bowl. Finely chop the remaining onion and reserve for topping. Add spices to meat: paprika, cumin and about 1 tablespoon of grill seasoning and/or some salt and pepper. Add garlic, parsley and Worcestershire and beer then form 4 large patties making them a little thinner at the center than at edges. Burgers plump when you cook them so this will prevent burger bulge. Drizzle a little olive oil over the burgers then grill about 4 minutes on each side for medium rare, 5 minutes on each side for medium and 6 to 7 minutes on each side for well done.
• Mix mustard and sour cream with dill.
• Serve patties on bun bottoms and top with lettuce, pickles, chopped raw onion. Slather bun tops with sauce and serve.

SMOKY BACON BURGERS

Steps:

• Combine the ground beef, onion, egg yolk, salt, pepper, and liquid smoke in a medium bowl and mix well.
• The mixture should be soft, yet hold its shape.
• Add up to 1/2 cup bread crumbs if mixture will not come together.
• Mix with your hands-- like a man should!
• Feel free to add small amounts of any other seasonings you think would add to the flavor.
• I like to add a bit of minced garlic, seasoned salt, cayenne, etc.
• Have fun with it.
• Divide the mixture into four equal portions and form into patties that are about the diameter of the buns you'll be using.
• This should make them fairly thin and large.
• Wrap a slice of bacon around the center of each patty and secure with toothpicks.
• Chill in refrigerator at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours to chill and firm up the patties.
• Bring patties up to room temperature while preparing a hot fire in grill.
• Throw on a few water-logged mesquite wood chunks and grill the burgers to your liking, removing the toothpicks before turning over.
• While the burgers are on the grill, lightly toast the buns under the broiler or on the grill.
• Be sure you have the large hamburger buns, not those puny ones like you see in McDonald's happy meals.
• You're making man-sized burgers here!
• Place the hamburger patties, buns, tomatoes, lettuce, and anything else you want to use to build your burger, on individual plates and let each person make their own.
• These burgers go great with potato chips, macaroni salad, baked beans, and corn on the cob for a fantastic Summer meal.
• A chocolate pudding or slice of cream pie makes a great dessert.
• This recipe can be doubled or tripled or whatever to serve as many as you need.
• Enjoy!

BUFFALO BURGERS WITH PICKLED ONIONS AND SMOKY RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Roast bell pepper on rack of a gas burner over high heat, turning with tongs, until skin is blackened, 12 to 15 minutes. (Or broil pepper on a broiler pan about 5 inches from heat, turning occasionally, about 15 minutes.)
• Transfer to a bowl and cover tightly, then let stand 20 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel pepper, discarding stem and seeds, and coarsely chop. Purée pepper in a blender with dressing, garlic, paprika, and salt until smooth, then transfer to a bowl and chill, covered, until ready to serve.
• Grill onions:
• Peel onions and trim root ends slightly, leaving onions whole, then halve lengthwise and cut halves lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick wedges. Insert 1 wooden pick through each wedge to hold layers together while grilling, then put onions in a bowl.
• Heat vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small nonreactive heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Pour pickling liquid over onions, stirring occasionally to coat with liquid, and let stand 5 minutes (onions will brighten in color), then drain onions and pat dry.
• Prepare grill for cooking. If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal. Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds. If using a gas grill, preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderate. Grill onions on a lightly oiled grill rack, covered only if using a gas grill, turning over once, until tender, about 5 minutes total. Remove and discard wooden picks.
• Grill burgers:
• Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of burgers, then grill burgers on lightly oiled grill rack, covered only if using a gas grill, turning over once with a spatula, 5 to 6 minutes total for medium-rare. Meanwhile, grill English muffins, turning over once with tongs, until toasted, about 3 minutes total. Serve burgers on muffins topped with sauce and onions.