Steakhouse Cheddar Burger with Butter Lettuce, Cucumber & Pistachio Salad

Step 1

1 Prepare the ingredients & make the glaze Wash and dry the fresh produce. Thinly slice the mushrooms. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Roughly chop the cheese curds. Quarter and deseed the lemon. Cut off and discard the root ends of the lettuce; roughly chop the leaves. Thinly slice the cucumbers into rounds. In a bowl, combine the soy glaze, vinegar, sugar, ketchup, and 2 tablespoons of water. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Halve the buns.

Step 2

2 Cook & glaze the mushrooms In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced mushrooms in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the chopped garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until softened. Add the glaze (carefully, as the liquid may splatter). Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until slightly thickened and the mushrooms are coated. Transfer to a bowl and cover with foil to keep warm. Rinse and wipe out the pan.

Step 3

3 Form the patties Place the beef and chopped cheese curds in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Gently mix to combine. Form the mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.

Step 4

4 Cook the patties In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the patties. Cook 4 to 5 minutes per side (flipping carefully, as the oil may splatter), or until browned and cooked through.* Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a work surface. *The USDA recommends a minimum safe cooking temperature of 160°F for beef.

Step 5

5 Make the salad Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the juice of all 4 lemon wedges and 1 tablespoon of olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Just before serving, add the chopped lettuce, sliced cucumbers, and Grana Padano (crumbling before adding); toss to coat. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired.

Step 6

6 Toast the buns & serve your dish Working in batches, add the halved buns, cut side down, to the pan of reserved fond (if the pan seems dry, add a drizzle of olive oil). Toast on medium-high 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until lightly browned. Transfer to a work surface. Assemble the burgers using the toasted buns, cooked patties, glazed mushrooms, and crispy onions. Serve the burgers with the salad on the side. Garnish the salad with the pistachios and peppers. Enjoy!