California Burger

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 ripe hass avocadoes, halved, pitted, peeled, and coarsely chopped
• 1/2 small onion, finely diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, finely diced
• 1 lime, juice of
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• kosher salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 lbs ground chuck or 1 1/2 lbs ground turkey
• kosher salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
• 4 slices monterey jack cheese
• 4 hamburger buns, split and toasted
• 1 small bunch watercress
• 4 slices ripe beefsteak tomatoes

Recipe

• 1 make the relish: combine the avocados, onion, jalapeno, lime juice, and cilantro in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper to taste.
• 2 the relish can be made up to 1 hour in advance and kept at room temperature.
• 3 divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each).
• 4 form each portion loosely into a 3/4-inch thick burger and make a deep depression in the center with your thumb.
• 5 season both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.
• 6 heat oil in a pan or griddle over high heat until the oil begins to shimmer; cook the burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the first side, about 3 minutes for beef, 5 minutes for turkey; flip burgers over; cook until golden brown and slightly charred on the second side (4 minutes for med-rare beef, 5 minutes for turkey).
• 7 during last minute of cooking, cover each patty with a slice of cheese and cover with a basting cover or tent burgers with foil.
• 8 place the burgers on the bun bottoms and top each one with a few sprigs of watercress, a slice of tomato, and a dollop of the avocado relish.
• 9 cover with bun tops and serve immediately.