Name: California Burgers
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: CaliforniaAmericanUS & Canada
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds 85 percent lean ground beef; 2 tablespoons finely chopped jarred pickled jalapeños , plus 2 tablespoons jalapeno brine; Salt and pepper; 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 4 slices deli Swiss cheese; 1 ripe avocado , pitted, skinned, and sliced thin; 1/2 small red onion , sliced thin; 4 hamburger buns; 1 ripe tomato , cored and sliced thin

Why This Recipe Works

Jarred jalapeños helped heat up our California Burgers in two ways: The brine added a vinegary kick to the avocado relish, and chopped jalapeños helped flavor the beef. Shredded lettuce and alfalfa sprouts put the finishing touches on our authentic California-style burgers. Creating an indentation in the middle of the burgers ensured they cooked evenly without puffing up.

Before You Begin

If food safety is your primary concern, you may want to cook your burger to a higher internal temperature. To learn more, check out this guide.

Instructions

Combine beef, pickled jalapeños, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in large bowl and knead gently until well incorporated. Shape into four 3/4-inch-thick patties and make shallow indentation in center of each.

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add patties and cook until well browned and cooked to desired doneness, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer burgers to plate, top with cheese, and tent with foil.

Toss avocado, onion, and jalapeño brine in bowl until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange burgers on buns and top with avocado mixture and tomatoes. Serve.