Our family loves burgers and we wanted to try a different take. It reminded us of the meatballs used in our recipe Linguini and Meatballs along with a caprese salad. We used our homemade Easy Marinara Sauce, but you can use your favorite. If you intend to use the Easy Marinara Sauce make it well ahead of time and make sure you have the ingredients it calls for. If you prefer to serve the burgers on a regular bun feel free to do so, just form them into circles instead. Also they can be made into sliders. Just make sure you have the smaller buns and bake them instead. For another version try Italian Style Burger on Garlic Bread. The ingredient amounts will make one burger, more if making sliders. This particular burger was very large and was perfect for sharing. Adjust ingredient amounts for the number of people serving.
Ingredients
Burger
6 oz. of ground sausage (sweet, mild or hot) casings removed if in casings
1 tablespoon of parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon of plain bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon of fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon of mixed Italian herbs
1 large of garlic crushed through a garlic press about a 1/2 teaspoon
Toppings and Dipping Sauce
2 -3 slices of fresh mozzarella cheese
2 tomato slices
1 tablespoon of fresh basil chiffonade technique
Bread
Ciabatta bread cut into a rectangle about 3 inches by 7 inches and then cut in half like a regular bun to place your burger into
Non-stick cooking spray
Marinara sauce for dipping
Technique
Place all of the burger ingredients in a medium bowl and mix ingredients well. Form burger into a rectangle so it will match the size of your bread. Preheat a grill to medium and grill burger for about 7 minutes on each side. Cooking times will vary depending on how thick your burger is they type of grill you are using. Because we are working with pork make sure your burger cooked thoroughly. A few minutes before it is done, place cheese on burger to melt. Toast bread by spraying with non-stick cooking spray and place on the grill for a couple of minutes until lightly toasted. While burger is grilling, cut tomato into slices and chiffonade technique the basil. Pour marinara sauce into a small dish for dipping. Once burger is done plate by placing tomato slices on the bread and the basil and top with burger. Enjoy!
Suggested Beverage
Try Peroni, Farnese Sangiovese (Italy),  Aranciata or limonata.
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