Poblano Popper Sliders

From Everyday with Rachael Ray



Ingredients:
2 large poblano chiles
1 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings
Juice of 2 limes
Salt and pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), for drizzling
1 small ripe avocado
1/2 cup sour cream
A handful cilantro, finely chopped
1 fresno or jalapeño chile, seeded and finely chopped
3/4 pound ground beef sirloin
3/4 pound ground pork
1/2 palmful each ground cumin, ground coriander and sweet smoked paprika (about 1 1/2 teaspoons each)
Pinch ground cinnamon
1/3 cup beer, such as Negra Modelo
2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
Sliced pepper jack, hot-pepper cheddar or sharp yellow cheddar cheese, folded or cut to top burgers
8 white, potato or whole wheat slider rolls, split

Directions:
1. Preheat the broiler to high. Broil the poblanos (with the oven door ajar to allow steam to escape) to char them all over. Place the chiles in a bowl, cover and let cool. Peel and seed the chiles, then, using a food processor, puree them.

2. Meanwhile, season the red onion rings with half of the lime juice, salt, pepper and a little EVOO to coat. In a second bowl, mash together the avocado, sour cream, cilantro, fresno chile and remaining lime juice; season to taste with salt.

3. In a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, pureed poblano, cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, salt and lots of pepper. Mix in the beer and worcestershire. Form the mixture into eight 3-inch patties (a little thinner in the center and thicker at the edges). Drizzle a little EVOO in a large skillet or nonstick griddle over medium-high heat. Add the burgers and cook, turning once, for about 7 minutes for medium-rare. Top with the cheese and tent loosely with foil during the last minute or so of cooking.

4. Place the burgers on the roll bottoms. Top with the onions and sauce and set the roll tops in place.

Comments:
These were really good. Not really that spicy, and that's coming from the world's biggest wuss. There's some prep involved with the poblano pepper and sauces, and I ended up skipping the red onion, but I don't think either of us missed it. The one thing I would change is I'd omit the cinnamon. It was too much and I didn't like it against all the other flavors.