Queso Flameado Burger

Escabeche:

• 4 ounces carrots (about 2 medium carrots), peeled and shaved with vegetable peeler to create ribbons
• 1 medium red onion, sliced thin
• 1 jalapeño, sliced thin
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Burger:

• 1/2 pound cremini mushrooms
• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ancho chile powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
• 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
• 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
• 2 teaspoons achiote paste
• 4 hamburger buns
• 4 ounces asadero cheese
• 1/2 cup fried tortilla strips (or crushed tortilla chips)
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 2 small tomatoes, sliced
• Escabeche for garnish

Make the escabeche: place carrots, onions, and jalapeño in a non-reactive bowl. Bring vinegar, 1/4 cup water, sugar, and salt to boil. Pour hot liquid over carrot mixture; let cool then store in fridge. Escabeche will last 3 weeks in the fridge. Great on burgers, tacos, salads, and eggs, too!

Make the burgers: preheat oven to 375°F. Pulse mushrooms and garlic in a food processor; don’t purée, leave some texture.

In a small bowl, mix together salt, sugar, and spices. In a large bowl, mix ground beef with mushrooms and achiote paste. Sprinkle seasoning mix over beef and mushroom mixture; mix until just incorporated. Portion burger mixture into four 5-1/2 ounce patties.

Grease a large heavy skillet and set over medium-high heat. When quite hot, add the patties and cook to your favorite state of doneness, about 3 minutes per side for a medium-rare burger (it will continue cooking in the oven during the next step). Place cooked patties on one half of a sheet tray and sprinkle with asadero cheese. On the other half of sheet tray, place the burger buns. Transfer to the oven for 3 to 4 minutes to melt the cheese and toast the buns.

Assemble burger on toasted bun: layer sliced avocado, sliced tomato, escabeche, and tortilla strips on your burger and serve.