BLT Burgers with Honey-Glazed Bacon, Grilled Lettuce & Smoky Tomato Mayonnaise

Ingredients:

Ingredients for the honey molasses-glazed bacon:
18 slices thick cut applewood smoked bacon, divided, or pancetta
2 1/2 T honey
2 teaspoons molasses
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
pinch ground cayenne

Ingredients for the grilled lettuce:
4 leaves radicchio
2 T extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 T sherry vinegar
1/2 T dijon mustard

Ingredients for the smoky tomato mayonnaise:
1 large ripe tomato
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 clove garlic
3/4 cup mayonnaise
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients for the hamburger patties:
2 pounds ground chuck
1/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
vegetable oil, for grill pan
6 ounces Comte, shredded (can substitute Gruyere)
6 classic white bakery buns, split

Preparing the hamburgers:
Preheat a nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat.

Roughly chop 6 of the bacon slices, and add to the grill pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon just barely begins to turn crispy, about for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cooked bacon to a food processor and process for 4 to 5 seconds. Set aside for later use, (in the patties).

Preparing the honey molasses-glazed bacon:
In a small mixing bowl combine the honey, molasses, vinegar, and cayenne and mix until well combined. Brush the remaining 12 bacon slices on both sides with the honey mixture. Heat a large fireproof nonstick skillet on the grill. Add 1/2 the bacon and cook over medium-high heat until crispy, about 5 minutes, flipping once. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining bacon.

Preparing the grilled lettuce:
Soak the radicchio leaves, for about 10 minutes, in an ice bath to lessen the amount of bitterness. Remove the leaves from the ice bath and pat dry with paper towels. Brush the leaves with 1 tablespoon oil. Put on the grill and cook briefly on each side. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into 1-inch wide strips. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil, the sherry vinegar, and dijon mustard. Add the radicchio and toss to coat.

Preparing the smoky tomato mayonnaise:
Put the tomato on the grill and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until most of the skin has blackened. Transfer to a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap. After 10 minutes, squeeze the tomato into a strainer to remove the seeds and most of the skin (you can leave a little bit of the burnt skin). Discard the seeds and skin. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the tomato, smoked paprika, garlic, and mayonnaise and puree. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Preparing the hamburger patties:
Combine the beef, reserved bacon (that has been chopped in the food processor), tarragon, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix well, handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form into patties to fit the size of the buns.

Brush the grill pan with vegetable oil. Arrange the patties in the pan and cook, turning once, just until done, about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare. During the last few minutes of cooking, top with equal amounts of cheese and put the buns, cut side down, on the outer edges of the grill to toast lightly.

Assembling the hamburgers:
Spread a generous amount of the smoky tomato mayonnaise on the cut side of the buns. Top the bun bottoms with 2 slices of honey molasses-glazed bacon, a cheese-topped patty, and equal amounts of Grilled Lettuce. Cover with the bun tops and serve.

Serves 6