(YIELDS 4)
1#8 oz good quality ground chuck ( 80 %lean, 20% fat)
½ # fresh wild mushrooms, such as chanterelles ( substitute white mushrooms
if you can’t find wild mushrooms), trimmed and cleaned with a brush
3T extra virgin olive oil
1T unsalted butter
½ c oven roasted tomatoes( available at Whole Foods)
6-oz good quality blue cheese , such as Fourme d’Ambert or Bleu d’Auvergne,cut into
4 flat squares, at room temperature
1 bunch watercress
a loaf of good quality bread , made from a natural starter( we use Filone from Udi’s)
salt and pepper
4T garlic mayonnaise
2T Dijon mustard
Carefully shape the meat into 4- 6 oz patties about 1-1/2” high, preferably using a ring mold(see photo). Be careful to handle the meat as little as possible. Drizzle the meat on both sides with olive oil and gently rub the oil over the surfaces of the meat. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Allow the patties to come to room temperature.
Saute the mushrooms . Heat a skillet over high heat , add 1 T olive oil and toss the mushrooms. Add the butter and toss again. Cook until the mushrooms begin to soften ,and season with salt and pepper . Set aside.
Trim the bread into eight pieces, each one the size of the burger patties,
. Heat your oven to 400f.
Heat a carbon steel pan or cast iron skillet over medium high heat to smoking. Add a little additional oil to the pan and place the patties in the pan . Turn heat down to medium. . When the patties are lightly brown on one side, turn them and cookd 2 minutes.
Repeat the process 2 more times. For a medium rare hamburger, total cooking time should be about 8 minutes. Remove the burgers to a platter loosely covered with foil.
Toast the bread and heat the mushrooms in the oven. Place the cheese on the burgers and quickly warm in the oven.
Spread some garlic mayonnaise on the bottom of each square of toasted bread, Top with the burger, the mushrooms, a few oven dried tomatoes , and a few sprigs of watercress,
Spread the mustard inside the top half of the bread and place on top of the burger. Flatten gently( the sandwich should fit your mouth) and serve.
