Photo of a similar slider by Yogma @ flickr
From Denny: Savory recipes using chocolate as an ingredient are not exactly prolific, so when I stumble across one it gets bookmarked immediately! :) Found this a couple of days ago. They actually use cocoa powder as a "spice" in with the ground meat!
This recipe is great for tail-gating season or any other informal gathering. The sauce sounds awesome and is made out of garlic, bacon, vinegar, tomatoes, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, red pepper flakes and Zinfandel wine.
Zinfandel Sliders With Tomato-Bacon Jam
From: Randy Lewis, burger boss and owner of Best-O-Burger Restaurants from San Francisco, California
Makes: 12 minislider burgers
Ingredients:
Jam:
1 cup diced bacon
2 garlic cloves, grated
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 piece cinnamon stick
2 cups canned Italian tomatoes, drained, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel
1 tsp. honey
Kosher salt, to taste
Sliders:
2-1/4 lbs. lean ground chuck
2 tsps. kosher salt
1 tsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
12 slices Jack cheese
12 miniburger or brioche buns
Directions:
For the Tomato-Bacon Jam:
1. In a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, add bacon and cook until crispy, stirring often, about 7 to 8 minutes.
2. Add garlic and cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add the vinegar and cinnamon stick and cook until the liquid is reduced to a glaze, about 1 minute.
4. Stir in tomatoes, brown sugar, pepper flakes and Zinfandel. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is completely evaporated, about 1-1/2 hours.
5. Stir in the honey and season with salt. Discard cinnamon stick and serve jam at room temperature. The cooked and cooled Tomato-Bacon Jam can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.
For Zinfandel Sliders:
1. Break up ground chuck in medium bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, add salt, cocoa powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and cinnamon. Mix to combine evenly and sprinkle over meat. Toss to distribute seasonings.
3. Divide seasoned meat into 12 equal portions. Gently toss one portion of meat back and forth between hands to form loose ball.
4. Lightly flatten into patty 1/4-inch thick and about 2-1/2 inches in diameter. Repeat with remaining meat.
5. Grill or pan cook burger patties over medium-high heat to your desired degree of doneness, about 1 minute each.
6. Top each with cheese slice. Grill or toast burger buns and spread Tomato-Bacon Jam on burger.
*** As I was looking for the photo to go with this recipe (site was down for maintenance so not available) I found this cool site called Menu Pages - where you stash online all those menus from restaurants you enjoy and don't have to hold onto the paper version in some messy drawer at home!
*** Thanks for visiting and come back often! :)
