Cajun Burgers

        The sun finally graced us with its presence today after what has felt like weeks of thunderstorm after thunderstorm. Blue skies dotted with fluffy white clouds, warm sunshine, and a light breeze had me craving one thing: A homemade, charcoal grilled burger. Lucky for us, this recipe has been in the queue for awhile and the warmer weather gave us just the excuse we needed to try it.

        I expected these burgers to be good, but dang, these burgers were GOO-OOD. Combined with red onion, a fresh leaf of lettuce, and a sweet spicy sauce, this was one of the best burgers I have ever had. Thick, juicy, and flavorful with the perfect amount of heat. The burgers come together quickly and deliver amazing flavor--the perfect option for a quick weeknight meal or a Friday night barbecue with friends! I am so glad we tried these at the beginning of the grilling season, because they will definitely be making many more appearances over the next few months. Fire up that grill and make the most of this spring weekend!

Cajun Burgers
Yield: 4 burgers
Recipe heavily adapted from Better Homes and Gardens magazine


Ingredients:
For burgers:
1 lb. ground sirloin
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fine sourdough breadcrumbs
1 1/2 tsp Cajun or blackening seasoning
1 red onion, sliced
4 leaves lettuce
4 slices cheese, any
4 buns, buttered on one side

For sauce:
1/4 cup mayo or Miracle Whip (we used Miracle Whip)
1 Tbsp. ketchup
1 tsp. molasses or maple syrup
1 1/2 tsp. Cajun seasoning

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl mix together ground sirloin, egg yolk, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and seasoning.
2. Divide into four equal portions and shape into burgers.

3. Place burgers on grill and cook until both sides are browned and center is cooked to desired done-ness or 4-6 minutes per side, depending on how much pink you like.
4. Place buns on grill, buttered side down and grill for about a minute.
5. Meanwhile, mix mayo, ketchup, molasses, and Cajun seasoning in small bowl.
6. Top buns with cheese, lettuce, red onion, sauce, and burgers. Stuff your face!