Rockburger Salad with Sesame Croutons Recipe

Rockburger Salad with Sesame Croutons, This salad plays on the ingredients that make up the all-American hamburger in a sesame bun. Inside the burger is a special layer of Roquefort, a blue ewe’s milk cheese from France.

SERVES 4

• 2 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 tsp. French mustard
• ½ tsp. celery salt
• pinch of black pepper
• 4 oz. Roquefort or other blue cheese
• 1 large sesame seed bread loaf
• 3 tbsp. olive oil, preferably Spanish
• 1 small iceberg lettuce
• 2 oz. arugula or watercress
• ½ cup French Dressing
• 4 ripe tomatoes, quartered
• 4 large scallions

• Place the ground beef, egg, onion, mustard, celery salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Combine thoroughly.  Divide the mixture into 16 portions, each weighing about 2 oz.
• Flatten the pieces between 2 sheets of plastic wrap or waxed paper to form 5 in rounds.
• Place ½ oz. of the cheese on 8 of the thin burgers. Sandwich with remainder and press the edges firmly. Store between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper and chill until ready to cook.
• To make the sesame croutons, preheat the broiler to a moderate temperature. Remove the sesame crust from the bread, then cut the crust into short fingers. Brush with olive oil and toast evenly for 10-15 minutes.
• Season the burgers and broil for 10 minutes, turning once.
• Wash the salad leaves and spin dry. Toss with the dressing, then distribute between 4 large plates. Place 2 of the rockbburgers in the center of each plate and arrange the tomatoes, scallions, and sesame croutons around the edge.

COOK’S TIP : If you’re planning ahead, it’s a good idea to freeze the filled burgers between pieces of waxed paper. They will keep the freezer for up to 8 weeks.