PROCESS:
Cheese Stuffing:
Place mozzarella cheese, sun dried tomatoes, chopped garlic, fresh basil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix all the ingredients together then add a few small chunks of cream cheese. The cream cheese will hold everything together so the cheese forms a ball and stays where you put it.
To stuff the burger:
Place 1/4 of a pound of ground beef on top a piece of plastic wrap. Press until it forms a large circle. The plastic wrap will keep the hamburger from sticking to the counter or cutting board. Top the burger with a chunk of cheese stuffing. Top that with another 1/4 pound of burger. Press the sides to seal in the filling.
Repeat this process with remaining burgers. Heat a skillet or grill to medium high and brown the burger on both sides. Top with a slice of tomato, two leaves of fresh basil and a slice of mozzarella. Cover the burgers until the cheese melts. Serve on a toasted bun.
See recipe for Portobello Fries in Sides & Vegetables Chapter
INGREDIENTS:
Recipe makes 4 Burgers:
Cheese Filling:
1 cup mozzarella cheese
3 tablespoons sun dried tomatoes
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
4 tablespoons fresh basil chiffonade
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons cream cheese
2 pounds ground beef
4 - slices of tomato
4 slices mozzarella
8 fresh basil leaves
4 burger buns