PIZZA ONION BURGERS (RACHAEL RAY)

These burgers are from the April 2018 issue of Rachael Ray Every Day magazine.

Rachael says:  Steak pizzalola (panfried steak with wine and pizza sauce) is an Italian American classic.  This recipe takes that idea and serves it up in burger form.

PIZZA ONION BURGERS
Makes 4
To get that pizzalola flavor, this burger is topped with onions cooked in a spicy tomato sauce.  I call them pizza onions.

PIZZA ONIONS:
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 large onions, quartered and thinly sliced
Salt
1 tsp. dried oregano
About 1/4 cup tomato paste
1 tsp. Calabrian chili paste or 1 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/2 cup red wine
1 cup chicken stock or water

BURGERS:
1 1/2 lb. ground sirloin
Kosher salt and black pepper
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
6 tbsp. butter, at room temperature
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Drizzle of olive oil
4 slices each provolone and mozzarella (from the deli counter)
4 Italian rolls or 4-to-5-inch pieces of soft Italian bread, split
Little Gem lettuce leaves, sliced tomato, and basil leaves, for serving

In a large skillet, heat the oil, two turns of the pan, over medium.  Add the onions, season with salt and the oregano.  Cook, stirring often, until very soft, about 20 minutes.  Add the tomato paste and chili paste and stir until coated, about 1 minute.  Add the wine and stir until evaporated.  Add the stock.  Reduce heat to low.  Let the pizza onions simmer while you make the burgers.

Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium high.

In a large bowl, season the beef with kosher salt and black pepper and mix together.  Form into 4 patties thinner in the centers for even cooking.

In a small bowl, mix the parsley, butter and garlic.

Drizzle the patties with oil.  Cook, turning occasionally, 7 to 8 minutes.  Top with the garlic butter, then the cheeses.  Tent with foil to melt the cheeses.

Top the roll bottoms with lettuce, tomato, basil, and the cheeseburgers.  Add the pizza onions and roll tops.