Abby's Burgers

Ingredients:

Ingredients for pickled onions:
1 T salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 shakes hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco)
1/2 small red onion, sliced thin (preferably on mandolin)

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Ingredients for burger:
12 ounces ground beef
1/4 cup ham, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/4 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano
1/4 cup gruyere, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 large clove garlic, smashed and finely chopped
kosher salt

2 slices gruyere

2 sesame seed buns

1/2 cup mayonnaise mixed with 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 slices beefsteak tomato

1 cup baby arugula, washed

Preparing the pickled onions:
Combine the salt, sugar, vinegar, water, and hot sauce in a container with a lid. Shake to incorporate everything really well. Add the onions and let sit for at least 30 minutes.

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Preparing the burger:
Preheat the grill. Combine all the burger ingredients and season well with salt. Form into 2 equal patties. Grill each burger for about 4 minutes on each side. During the last 2 minutes of grill time, top each burger with a slice of cheese.

Open the buns and place the inside on the grill, and grill until the bun is lightly toasted, about 1 minute.

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Assembling the burgers:
Smear the inside of each toasted bun with the garlic mayonnaise. Place the burger patty on the bottom bun. Top each burger with a few pickled onions, a tomato slice, and some arugula. Top with the top half of the bun.

Serves 2