Pesto Burgers

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 lb ground chuck
• 1/4 cup dry italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red bell peppers
• sea salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 8 buns or 8 sliced italian bread
• 2 cups fresh basil leaves (stems discarded)
• 3/4 cup pine nuts
• 3/4 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves garlic
• sea salt, to taste
• pepper
• 1 1/4 cups extra virgin olive oil

Recipe

• 1 to make the pesto: add the basil leaves, pine nuts, cheese, garlic, salt and pepper to the container of a food processor.
• 2 while slowly adding the olive oil through the chute, pulse the processor on and off for 30 seconds.
• 3 with the processor off, take a rubber spatula and scrape down the sides; replace the lid and pulse for approximately 10 more seconds or until the pesto is well blended.
• 4 to make the burgers: in a mixing bowl (using your hands or a wooden spoon) combine the ground beef, 1/2 cup pesto, breadcrumbs, oregano, and red pepper; ingredients should be well distributed.
• 5 shape mixture into 4 patties; season lightly with salt and pepper if desired.
• 6 place patties on a grill over medium-high heat; grill for 5 minutes on one side, turn pattties over and grill for about 5 more minutes or until cooked through.
• 7 thinly spread pesto on the cut sides of toasted buns or italian bread.
• 8 you may drizzle additional pesto over the burgers, then serve on toasted buns/bread.