Smash Burgers with Chipotle Jam

[Cliff Bartlett]

I'm trying to get caught up on all the recipes I have stashed away and I'm losing ground. Saw this burger a while back that is served on a potato roll, on top of a layer of Bacon Jam, topped with some nice Havarti and finished off with some not so "Secret Sauce". Hint, Chipotle Ketchup and Mayo.
A lot of work but I loved doing it. Here goes.

Edit.... Made a mistake in title line. Should be Bacon Jam, not Chipotle Jam.

Ground the beef, 50/50 Rib Eye and Chuck.

Got started on the Bacon Jam. A pound of bacon.

Removed the bacon to drain on some paper towels and sauteed the onion in the bacon grease. Added some Cattlemen's 8 Second Ride to the onions.

Once the onions were translucent added some fresh garlic and brown sugar.

Then added some black coffee, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup and finally dried thyme.

Reduced over a medium heat until syrupy.

After cooling used food processor to achieve the consistency I liked.

All done.

Got the potato rolls done next.

Got lazy and did some store bought shoestring potatoes in some peanut oil.

 

[Cliff Bartlett]

Got going on the smash burgers.

Had the wrong spatula out and I took a pretty good divot out of the crust on one of the patties.

The cheese.

Gave the buns a toast.

The fixings.

The Jam.

Plate shots.

These burgers were delicious. What a flavor profile. The ground beef was wonderful with half of it being rib eye. The Bacon Jam was excellent with a little kick from the 8 Second Ride. It took me a couple of tries to get the reduction down to a syrup and not go overboard and have it crystallize. Sauce called for Chipotle Ketchup and as usual, I could not find it up here. I made my own with a recipe I got off of Amazing Ribs. The potato rolls were excellent, but again I got them too big my first to around (a gross understatement) and needed to reduce the dough balls. The finished product was worth the wait and I would do them again. In all honesty though, I don’t think they were that much better than a regular old burger with a slice of cheddar, mustard, mayo, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes etc. Whatever you like. We do have about 14 ounces of Chipotle Ketchup and the Bacon Jam left over for other adventures. Thanks for looking everyone!

 

[James N]

I could go for more than a couple of those...Came out looking good Cliff

 

[Clint]

I could go for more than a couple of those...Came out looking good Cliff

I could too - I'm sure the bacon jam won't last long, but I wonder how it (and the pickled onion Cliff made) will last. I made some of Alton Brown's onion dip today with a few mods, I'm wondering how that'll hold up too.

 

[Mildo]

Wow, that's a lot of work on those Smash Burgers. I think it's worth it, because it looks very tasty. You are a handy man Cliff!

 

[Len Dennis]

That bacon jam looks so good.

Is this still the recipe you're using?
https://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?24091-Bacon-Jam&p=806689#post806689

 

[Robert-R]

Looks real good to me. Really like your mix for the burgers and anything that involves bacon. Have yet to experience a smash burger. That needs to change.

 

[Rich Dahl]

That was quite a project Cliff and it came out great, looks real tasty.

 

[Cliff Bartlett]

Thanks guys!

That bacon jam looks so good.

Is this still the recipe you're using?
https://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?24091-Bacon-Jam&p=806689#post806689

No Len, this isn't the recipe I used but it is very darned close. I hadn't seen this post of Bob's. He posted it a few years before I joined the group and I'm sorry to say I still haven't cruised through all the wonderful recipes that reside on this site. The ingredients are nearly identical. Bob's recipe calls for Bay leaves and the procedure is somewhat different, calling for cooking in a crock pot as opposed to grilling in a skillet. Aside from that, it's basically the same. Probably both are hybrids originating from one very creative recipe.

 

[Bob Correll]

Not sure what to say Cliff.
I'll just go with:
WOW!!

 

[russ olin]

Lookin' Guud.

 

[ChuckO]

That there is a five star burger, congrats Cliff!

btw, it's going to be a tough season for us Giants fans....

 

[Barb D]

Cliff, that was one interesting cooks. The bacon jam sounds delicious. Over all that plated pic was awesome.