The Italian American: Beef Burgers with Old Country Influences

This is a crowd pleasing burger. It is more than just a beef patty with a slice of cheese.


Burgers
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 small can tomato paste
1 small onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 stems fresh oregano, pulled off stems and chopped
 (1 teaspoon dried)
10 leaves fresh basil, piled, rolled into a log, and slivered
 (1 teaspoon dried)
Coarse salt, to taste
2 shakes crushed red pepper flakes


Toppings
4 long green Italian peppers (cubanelle, we use anaheim)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (once around the pan)
1 can (14 oz) prepared pizza or tomato sauce
6 slices provolone cheese


5 big, crusty, fresh sesame-seeded hard rolls


Directions
1. Mix all the burger ingredients and form into 5 patties.
2. Cook the burgers 5 minutes on one side, 4 on the flip side, over medium-high heat on a non-stick skillet or griddle pan.
3. While burgers cook, fry peppers in a little olive oil in a second skillet over medium-high heat until tender.
4. Warm pizza or tomato sauce in microwave or small saucepan.
5. Pile burgers with peppers and cheese while they are still on the pan. Turn off the heat and cover pan with a loose aluminum foil tent to melt cheese.
6. Place burgers in buns and top with warm pizza or tomato sauce.