Baja Burger

Prepare the Pico de Gallo. Pico de Gallo can be made ahead of time — even the night before — and chilled. Keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to use it. In a large bowl, combine: 2 cups of diced tomatoes, 1 small diced white onion, 2 large stemmed, seeded, and diced jalapeños, 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, and salt to taste. Stir everything together, then refrigerate.

Make chipotle mayonnaise. In a small bowl combine 1/2 cup of mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon of chipotle powder. Chipotle powder is dried and smoked jalapeno peppers which adds a smoky spice to the mayonnaise and it's super easy to whip up.

Form the hamburger patties. I like to use a hamburger press to form my patties, but hands work perfectly too! Form the ground beef into 1/4-pound patties and salt and pepper if desired. Make an indention in middle of the burger which helps it to not puff up during cooking and make it slightly bigger than your bun as it will shrink during the cooking process.

Preheat the barbecue or a pan to medium‑high heat. Once hot, lightly oil the grates of the barbecue by dipping a folded paper towel into a high‑heat oil such as vegetable, canola, or avocado oil, then using long tongs to rub it over the grates so the patties don’t stick. If using a pan, add a tablespoon of butter to the pan, letting it melt. Add the patties to the hot grill or pan and allow several minutes of undisturbed cooking before flipping. Cook until they reach your desired doneness. Just as the burgers are ready to come off the grill, add 2 slices of pepper jack cheese to each patty.

Add a thin layer of butter to the cut side of your hamburger buns, then place them cut‑side down on the grill or in a hot pan and toast until lightly golden.

Assemble the burgers by adding chipotle mayonnaise to the top bun, placing the burger on the bottom bun, then finishing with a spoonful of Pico de Gallo.

Enjoy!

For more delicious burger recipes, check out these next:

• Hawaiian Burger
• Crispy Fish Sandwich
• Smash Burger
• Veggie Burger
• Spicy Firehouse Guacamole Burger
• Mushroom Onion Swiss Burger
• California Burger
• French Onion Burger
• Cheeseburger Wraps