Blueberry Blue Cheese Bacon Burgers + Walla Walla Syrah by Amavi Cellars
“This pairing was inspired by the wine itself and touches on all the fruity, earthy, savory notes in our Walla Walla Syrah.” — Amavi Cellars
INSTRUCTIONS
Make the Basil Aioli:
- Coarsely chop enough fresh basil leaves to make ½ cup.
- Combine the chopped basil with the mayonnaise, olive oil, lemon juice, and minced garlic, stirring until smooth. Season with kosher salt to taste, then refrigerate until ready to use.
Make the Blueberry Barbecue Sauce:
- In a small saucepan, bring the blueberries and other barbecue sauce ingredients to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Keep warm until ready to use.
Make the Burgers:
- Lightly oil the grates of a gas grill and preheat to 450°F.
- Form the ground beef into 4 equal patties, being careful not to overly pack the meat together. Season both sides liberally with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Cook the burgers over direct heat for 6 minutes, watching carefully for any flare-ups.
- Flip the burgers and cook for 4 more minutes on the other side, or until done.
Assemble:
- Spread basil aioli on the cut side of each bun, both top and bottom pieces.
- Next, pile arugula on the bottom bun and top with a grilled burger.
- Spread a tablespoon or two of the blueberry barbecue sauce on the burger.
- Top with blue cheese crumbles and crispy bacon slices. Add the top bun and serve. Pro tip: Mix blue cheese with cream cheese to create a spread for the buns, and that way the blue cheese isn’t too overpowering.
INGREDIENTS
For the Burgers:
- 1 lb. ground round beef (85% lean)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns
- 1½ cups arugula leaves
- 4 oz. blue cheese crumbles
- 4 slices thick-sliced smoked bacon, cooked until crisp
For the Blueberry Barbecue Sauce:
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Basil Aioli:
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- ½ cup light mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Kosher salt to taste
THE PAIRING
Wine: AMAVI 2023 Walla Walla Syrah
Why it works: The Walla Walla Syrah is sourced from 5 different vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA, creating a mix of flavors without one overpowering the others. There are fruity components, leathery and tobacco components, and some minerality as well. This burger is a perfect Walla Walla wine pairing that touches on all of those fruity, earthy, savory notes.