Recipe

Bella Pienza Burgers

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Bella Pienza Burgers

Photo by aargersi

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Beef Burgers
  • A&M's Testing Notes: These are the next best thing to that trip to Tuscany. Aargersi makes a lovely little burger that is easy and delectable, packing flavor inside the burger with generous dry ground black pepper...

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  • Chef

    aargersi's Notes: Pienza is a lovely little town atop a hill on the road between Montalcino and Montelpuciano. It has winding narrow little streets lined with shops ... in particular cheese shops that sell...

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Serves 4

1 pound ground sirloin Ask the
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zest from one lemon Ask the
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1 teaspoon kosher salt Ask the
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2 teaspoons ground black pepper Ask the
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1 tablespoon olive oil - plus additional for the burgers Ask the
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1 tablespoon honey Ask the
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2 tablespoons sherry vinegar Ask the
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1 teaspoon white truffle oil Ask the
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salt and pepper Ask the
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4 cups arrugula Ask the
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4 slices of a perfect tomato (see note at bottom) Ask the
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sliced fresh pecorino - make sure you get the soft fresh kind not the hard aged kind Ask the
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4 soft buns or rolls - I found pan de leche at my store, a brioche or challah roll would be nice too Ask the
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  1. Get the grill heating to med-high. Make the patties - put the beef, lemon zest, and measured salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix them gently and form into 4 patties. Press slightly in the center of each patty so they will cook evenly. Coat each patty with olive oil and set aside.

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  2. Make the arrugula salad - whisk 1 tbs olive oil with the vinegar, truffle oil and honey. Add salt and pepper, taste, adjust. Toss with the arrugula leaves. ** this is a delicious salad in it's own right by the way **

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  3. Grill the burgers to your preferred doneness - I actually prefer mine a bit on the done side, which I know to be frowned upon in some parts but whatever. Cook them the way you like them.

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  4. At the last flip, top each patty with sliced pecorino and get it all melty on the burger. Toast the buns on the cooler part of the grill as well - this happens fast with soft rolls so be careful!

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  5. Assemble your burgers - bottom bun, cheesy patty, sliced tomato, arrugula salad, top bun. Enjoy - a glass of brunello wouldn't be a bad thing!

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  6. ** Note to gardeners - pictured is a sweet tangerine tomato - possibly the best tomato I have ever eaten. It is an heirloom hybrid from Burpee, I start several of these plants every year ... they are amazing! **

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Img_1958 Reply

You had me at Montelpuciano...I've been thinking about buying some white truffle oil and now I have the perfect excuse! I'm saving this and I know it will be delicious!

Sagegr Reply

Double yum.

Sagegr Reply

Triple yum. This was our dinner tonight! Looking forward to writing up my thoughts. So glad I got to test this one out. Weather here is actually pretty Tuscan tonight, too. Buona sera!

036 Reply

Oh yay I am glad you like it! Seriously, when you start with Italy as in inspiration and add truffles and honey, what could go wrong?

Sagegr Reply

Yes, go RI! lived in Bristol RI where I entered my first cooking contest at age 8; my dad worked in Newport....then we moved to Kingston, I went to college in Providence and later lived in Snug Harbor! I have a high school reunion coming up that will be in Narragansett this fall!

Sagegr Reply

I just dedicated a savory plum pudding to this burger!

Rekaya_gibson Reply

That's some burger. I must try!

036 Reply

Let me know what you think!

Dsc_0382 Reply

Love, LOVE pecorino toscano! And with truffle oil! Not a big burger eater but this one might call my name.

036 Reply

Me too on the pecorino ... if you ever can get to Italy you HAVE to go to Pienza - pecorino heaven!!!

Copy_of_me Reply

Love the flavor combo you have here, as soon as I can move my right shoulder, I plan on making this, using my cheesy bun recipe here on F52...with pecorino melted on the bun and probably fresh mozzarella on either ground sirloin or ground brisket. Saving the recipe, will let you know after I get to make them! Thanks for sharing...

036 Reply

Your buns look great (hee hee - that was fun to type!) I need to try them. Hope your shoulder heals STAT - what a bummer!!!!

Newliztoqueicon-2 Reply

Oh man, you got me at truffle oil. We have these big, soft Mexican rolls here that would be perfect. Truffle oil is expensive but a little goes a long way -

036 Reply

Yeah just the teaspoon here is plenty ... get the oil YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Sagegr Reply

One tsp. does go a long way, and you can find a small bottle of this....once I found truffle honey, thinking it was like chocolate truffles and used it with iced tea. Oh yuck. But here is an instance where truffle honey would work well. This is an incredible recipe, I'm surprised it wasn't a finalist or ep already!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

I'm not much of a beef eater...but YUM.

036 Reply

You know what me either on the beef but I ate this up! This actually is great with lamb as well - not sure if Mr Dr Babs is a lamb eater? Mr L is not ....

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

My husband (His handle here is eateronly--isn't that cute?) does like lamb... me, not so much.

Lobster_001 Reply

This sounds (and looks) fabulous!

036 Reply

Thanks! It was tasty!

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

Wow... that bad boy looks delicious...seriously! I love the addition of truffle oil, too.

036 Reply

Thanks! What about the wine paring - have any domestic thoughts? :-)

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

I love Zins with good ole boy red meat burgers with the works including truffle oil. (we do not make Zins ourselves). Hmmmreally?? well done???

Reply

Takes me back! Pecorino with truffles - Yum! Burger sounds delicious!

Mrs Reply

That thing is gorgeous! Gonna put white truffle oil on my wish list for sure. Thanks for recipe!!

036 Reply

Thanks Mrs. L! White truffle oil makes life better :-)

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