Hamburgers with Watercress & Roquefort Butter

Serves four.

by Tasha DeSerio
from Fine Cooking
Issue 64
Last Edit Date: 6/15/2011 11:16:06 AM

Watercress and a blue-cheese compound butter lend a little sophistication to your basic burger.

more about:

1-1/2 lb. ground beef (preferably chuck)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 oz. Roquefort cheese, crumbled (a generous 1/3 cup)
2 Tbs. unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
4 hamburger buns or kaiser rolls, split
4 very thin slices red onion
1 cup loosely packed watercress sprigs, rinsed, tough stems removed

Heat the oven to 400°F. Season the beef with salt and pepper and shape it into four patties about 1 inch thick. Season both sides of each patty with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl, mix the Roquefort and butter with a rubber spatula.

Heat a large, heavy sauté pan over medium-high heat for 1 min. Set the hamburgers in the pan, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until well browned on the first side, 4 to 5 minu. Flip the burgers and cook to your liking: another 4 min. for medium rare, or another 6 min. for medium.

Meanwhile, toast the buns or rolls, split sides up, on a baking sheet in the oven until crusty and very light gold, 6 to 8 min. Spread both sides of each bun with about 1 Tbs. of the Roquefort butter. Serve the hamburgers on the toasted buns, topped with the onion and watercress.

nutrition information (per serving):
Size : based on four servings; Calories (kcal): 450; Fat (g): 22; Fat Calories (kcal): 200; Saturated Fat (g): 11; Protein (g): 42; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 7; Carbohydrates (g): 24; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 2; Sodium (mg): 1310; Cholesterol (mg): 125; Fiber (g): 2;