This truly is the best burger. Yes, many make this claim. Once you try this recipe, you will know. A red wine reduction sauce is mixed into the ground beef, keeping it moist; topped with caramelized onions and white cheddar for a great balance of flavor. The bun is toasted with rosemary compound butter. Fresh sliced tomatoes are all this burger needs to make it complete.
Making this burger involves many steps and much time. First is making the caramelized onions. These are wonderful to have on hand at all times. I make a large batch and freeze in small containers for quick use. Next is making the cabernet and shallot reduction sauce. This too freezes well in small containers when the craving comes for the Cab Burger. Well worth the effort.
The Chez Cindy Cab Burger
1 1/2 pounds of ground chuck
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bottle Cabernet Sauvignon
1/4 cup chopped shallots
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons brown sugar
Gruyere cheese or white cheddar cheese, grated 4 ounces
4 soft hamburger buns, potato or brioche
2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
1/2 tablespoon finely minced fresh rosemary
pinch of kosher salt
Caramelized onions
Sliced tomatoes
Before you begin grilling the burgers, have all your ingredients made ahead and ready to use. The red wine reduction will need about 20 minutes to cook down. The caramelized onions will need between 45-60 minutes. Grate the cheese; slice the tomatoes. Prepare the rosemary butter.
Begin by making the red wine reduction: Add the full bottle of wine to a large, deep saucepan. Add in the chopped shallots. Boil over high heat until the wine is reduced to roughly 1 cup. Remove from heat, add in the butter and brown sugar. Swirl to combine. Set aside to cool.
Make the caramelized onions (recipe below)
Make the rosemary butter: Combine the softened butter with the finely minced fresh rosemary and pinch of kosher salt. Set aside.
Prepare the burgers: Place the ground chuck into a large bowl. Add 4 tablespoons of the red wine shallot sauce; stir to combine. Shape into 4 burgers, each weighing 6 ounces. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Preheat the grill to medium high heat. Place the burgers onto the grill, basting each with a teaspoon of the red wine reduction sauce. (The left-over red wine reduction sauce can be frozen for future use.) Grill the burgers for about 4 minutes on the first side. Once you flip to side 2, top each burger with roughly 1 tablespoon of caramelized onions and cover with grated cheese. Close the lid of the grill to continue cooking and melting the cheese, about another 3 minutes. This should bring the burgers to about medium doneness. Remove the burgers to a tray, allowing to rest for a few minutes.
Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of rosemary butter onto each bun. Toast on the grill until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
Place a prepared burger onto each toasted bottom bun. Top each burger with sliced tomatoes, or your favorite toppings. Cover with the top bun and enjoy!
Caramelized Onions
2 large sweet onions
1 large red onion
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons white wine
Thinly slice the onions to equal about 4 cups. Working with a large skillet over medium heat, add the butter and oil. Once the butter is melted, swirl to combine. Add the sliced onions and garlic, salt and pepper. Stir to coat the onions with the butter oil mixture. After about 10 minutes on medium heat, turn the heat down to medium-low. Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat. Deglaze the pan by carefully adding in the white wine. Stir to combine, bringing up any bits of browning from the bottom of the pan.
Turn the heat back on to medium-low. Continue cooking until the onions are golden brown and have collapsed into soft strands, roughly 20 minutes. Use right away or once cool, refrigerate for future use. These onions are fantastic on burgers or chicken sandwiches. Stir in to scrambled eggs or add to a quiche or omelet. They freeze well and are quick to thaw.
The Chez Cindy Cab Burger
1 1/2 pounds of ground chuck
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bottle Cabernet Sauvignon
1/4 cup chopped shallots
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons brown sugar
Gruyere cheese or white cheddar cheese, grated 4 ounces
4 soft hamburger buns, potato or brioche
2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
1/2 tablespoon finely minced fresh rosemary
pinch of kosher salt
Caramelized onions
Sliced tomatoes
Before you begin grilling the burgers, have all your ingredients made ahead and ready to use. The red wine reduction will need about 20 minutes to cook down. The caramelized onions will need between 45-60 minutes. Grate the cheese; slice the tomatoes. Prepare the rosemary butter.
Begin by making the red wine reduction: Add the full bottle of wine to a large, deep saucepan. Add in the chopped shallots. Boil over high heat until the wine is reduced to roughly 1 cup. Remove from heat, add in the butter and brown sugar. Swirl to combine. Set aside to cool.
Make the caramelized onions (recipe below)
Make the rosemary butter: Combine the softened butter with the finely minced fresh rosemary and pinch of kosher salt. Set aside.
Prepare the burgers: Place the ground chuck into a large bowl. Add 4 tablespoons of the red wine shallot sauce; stir to combine. Shape into 4 burgers, each weighing 6 ounces. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Preheat the grill to medium high heat. Place the burgers onto the grill, basting each with a teaspoon of the red wine reduction sauce. (The left-over red wine reduction sauce can be frozen for future use.) Grill the burgers for about 4 minutes on the first side. Once you flip to side 2, top each burger with roughly 1 tablespoon of caramelized onions and cover with grated cheese. Close the lid of the grill to continue cooking and melting the cheese, about another 3 minutes. This should bring the burgers to about medium doneness. Remove the burgers to a tray, allowing to rest for a few minutes.
Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of rosemary butter onto each bun. Toast on the grill until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
Place a prepared burger onto each toasted bottom bun. Top each burger with sliced tomatoes, or your favorite toppings. Cover with the top bun and enjoy!
Caramelized Onions
2 large sweet onions
1 large red onion
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons white wine
Thinly slice the onions to equal about 4 cups. Working with a large skillet over medium heat, add the butter and oil. Once the butter is melted, swirl to combine. Add the sliced onions and garlic, salt and pepper. Stir to coat the onions with the butter oil mixture. After about 10 minutes on medium heat, turn the heat down to medium-low. Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat. Deglaze the pan by carefully adding in the white wine. Stir to combine, bringing up any bits of browning from the bottom of the pan.
Turn the heat back on to medium-low. Continue cooking until the onions are golden brown and have collapsed into soft strands, roughly 20 minutes. Use right away or once cool, refrigerate for future use. These onions are fantastic on burgers or chicken sandwiches. Stir in to scrambled eggs or add to a quiche or omelet. They freeze well and are quick to thaw.
For even greater perfection, try grinding your own beef when making this burger. See my earlier post to learn how to do this. Fresh ground burgers
*Recipe inspired by James McNair, author of James McNair's Grill Cookbook and James McNair's Burgers