Cheesy Burgers with Grilled Onions and Chunky Roasted Tomato Ketchup

Makes 6 hamburgers

I love a plain old hamburger, cooked on an outdoor grill, topped with cheese, sliced tomato, onion and mustard. But, once in a while, it is nice to have something a little different. I love this recipe. You can use any cheese that crumbles easily, such as goat, blue or ricotta salata. If you prefer a harder cheese like cheddar, shred it before incorporating with the beef. The roasted tomato ketchup recipe pares perfectly with the burger, but is equally delicious as a condiment for any sandwich, or as a sauce for a variety of main and side dishes. Serve these burgers at a summer cookout, or make it any time of the year using an indoor grill pan.

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 pounds ground beef (see notes below)
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dry minced onion
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup crumbled or shredded cheese of choice (see comments above)
• 1 medium onion, cut into 6 slices, about 1/4-inch thick
• 6 hamburger buns, split
• Softened butter
• Chunky Roasted Tomato Ketchup (optional, but delicious)

Combine the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, minced onion, salt and pepper. Add the cheese and mix together gently. Form into 6 patties, about 1/2-inch thick each. (Can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for several hours or overnight.)

Heat a grill pan or outside grill over high heat. Add the onion slices and grill until nicely browned, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from pan. Grill the burgers to desired doneness, about 5 minutes per side for medium. To serve, spread a little of the butter on one half of bun. Top with the burger, grilled onion, ketchup and the other half of bun, or let your guests assemble their own.

Notes: The type of ground beef used most often for hamburgers is chuck. You can also use ground sirloin for a leaner burger. The meat can be seasoned to taste with other herbs or spices. If desired, grill or broil the cut side of the buns before assembling the sandwiches.