Fajita Burgers

Fajitas - one of the Mexican food greats!  The perfect blend of spices, peppers, onions, and sour cream to go along with the delicious meat and tortillas.  I decided to join my love of this wonderful food with my burgerology hobby and came up with (drumroll please) Fajita Burgers!
This burger is a beef patty (for steak fajitas, but feel free to make it with ground chicken instead), topped with charred green peppers and a tangy onion crema, served up on a soft bun.  Ahhh - yum.

Fajita Burgers

Katie Christy

Ingredients:

Crema -

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tsp lime juice

1/4 tsp lime zest (optional)

1 tsp dried minced onion

Spice Blend -

1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1 green bell pepper, trimmed and cut into quarters

1 lb ground beef

4 slices colby-jack cheese (optional)

4 hamburger buns (I used Orowheat Potato)

Directions:

1.  For the Crema: stir the ingredients together in a small bowl.  Cover and chill until ready to use.

2.  For the Spice Blend: stir the ingredients together in a small bowl.  Set aside.

3.  Preheat the grill to high.  Oil the grate.

4.  Place the green pepper pieces on the grill.  Grill until slightly charred on the first side.  Flip, grill until slightly charred on the second side.  Remove from the grill.  Chop.  Set aside.

5.  Meanwhile: form the beef into four 1/4 pound patties.  Oil both sides and sprinkle evenly with the spice mixture.

6.  Place the patties on the grill.  Cook until the first side is just browned.  Flip.  Cook until the second side is well browned.

7.  Flip the burgers again.  Top each patty with a slice of cheese.  The beef should reach an internal temperature of 160°.  If you are at temperature before the cheese melts, close the grill cover briefly to do a fast-melt.

8.  Open the buns.  Spread 1/4 of the crema mixture onto each bun top.  Spoon about 1/4 of the green peppers onto the crema.  Place a patty on each bun bottom.  Assemble.  Serve!