Ham and Swiss Cheese Stuffed Burgers

Back in 2003 Cooking Light magazine did a feature called 'our best burgers ever!' Now, i missed the article 5 years ago but did see it on-line a few weeks back. Some of these creations intrigued me because I am always looking for a quick burger to throw on the grill.

This burger is unusual given that the toppings are INSIDE the burger and not on top of it as you usual find. The creator, food stylist Kellie Kelley, says her creation is a variation of the classic bacon cheeseburger, "but all the fun stuff's inside." Kellie's tips: Buy the thinnest slices of ham and cheese you can find, then press the patties between two pieces of plastic wrap. Make sure the edges are pinched together well so the cheese can't escape in the cooking process.

This was one of the best burgers we've made this summer (my lord - I almost wrote fall - it must be dinner's wine talking). It was quick to pull together and tasted great. Instead of the sourdough bread called for in the recipe I used slices of marbleized rye bread that was lightly toasted on the grill.

Ham and Swiss Cheese Stuffed Burgers

1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ground round
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese
2 ounces thinly sliced 33%-less-sodium smoked deli ham
Cooking spray
8 (1-ounce) slices sourdough bread
4 curly leaf lettuce leaves
8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices red onion
8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices tomato

Prepare grill.

Combine first 6 ingredients. Divide mixture into 8 equal portions, shaping each into a 5-inch oval patty. Top each of 4 patties with 2 tablespoons cheese and 1/2 ounce ham, leaving a 1/2-inch border; top with remaining patties. Press edges together to seal.

Place patties on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 3 minutes on each side or until done. Place bread slices on grill rack; grill 1 minute on each side or until toasted. Top each of 4 bread slices with 1 lettuce leaf, 2 onion slices, 1 patty, 2 tomato slices, and 1 bread slice.

Yield: 4 servings

Nutritional Information: CALORIES 468(37% from fat); FAT 19g (sat 8g,mono 7.6g,poly 1.2g); IRON 4.8mg; CHOLESTEROL 98mg; CALCIUM 208mg; CARBOHYDRATE 37.2g; SODIUM 808mg; PROTEIN 35.2g; FIBER 2.6g

Comments

[Cindy Ruth]

That's quite a good-looking burger. Made me so hungry I've got to go fix dinner. It's no wonder you said best burger you've cooked this fall, if your summer has been anything like ours. I had to break out the winter down comforter today after freezing last night with the thin summer comforter. And I'm now looking out my window at all of the leaves turning yellow. It sure is (unfortunately)fall here...

[Jerry]

Cindy Ruth - it was the summer that wasn't! If you make these buy more thinly sliced ham than I show in the pics as it overwhelmed things a bit!