Whole Foods Market Bacon Bash Challenge, Part 2: Bacon Jam Brie Burger

Bacon jam is something I have fallen in love with since I first tried it on a foie gras slider made by Chef Joe Youkhan of Chef Joe Youkhan’s Tasting Spoon back in 2010. Since then, I’ve seen it in many forms: on burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, and desserts. With the Whole Foods Market Bacon Bash Challenge, I wanted to challenge myself by making a bacon jam, incorporating bacon into the ground beef mixture, and also giving the hubby a break from the outdoor grill. If you like bacon and the balance of sweet, salty, and smoky with creamy, rich, and melty brie, this burger is for you!

Bacon Jam Brie Burger by OC Food Diva

4 servings

Bacon Jam:

3 strips Wellshire Applewood Smoked Bacon

1 large red onion

1/3 cup Pasolivo Blackberry Balsamic Vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/3 cup water

Burger:

2 strips Wellshire Applewood Smoked Bacon

1 pound Eel River Organic Lean Ground Beef

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

¾ teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

4 EuroClassic brioche buns

½ wheel Petit Bonhomme Double Cream Brie

For the bacon jam:

• Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
• Dice up bacon, add to sauté pan, and cook until browned but not crispy.
• Thinly slice red onion.
• Add red onion to pan and cook until soft and translucent (about 10 minutes).
• Stir in vinegar, mustard, and water and bring to a simmer.
• Simmer until sauce thickens (about 5 minutes).
• Turn off heat and set aside.

For burgers:

• Start charcoal grill.
• Slice the brie into ¼ to ½ thick slices. Set aside.
• Finely dice up bacon.
• Using hands, lightly mix the bacon with the ground beef in a medium bowl adding Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper until the ingredients are blended.
• Divide mixture into quarters and shape into patties about 1-inch thick.
• Cook the burgers on grill for 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare (add a 1 minute for medium, 2 minutes for medium well, 3 minutes for well done).
• After flipping the burgers and add brie one minute before patties are cooked to liking.
• Remove burgers from grill and let them rest for 5 minutes.
• Toast brioche buns on grill, 1 minute.
• Top bottom bun with burger patty. Top patty with bacon jam and top bun. Enjoy!

Approximate cost to make this recipe using ingredients from Whole Foods Market: $33.95

I hope you enjoy this recipe. My hubby can’t wait for me to make this recipe again!