Week 2, Recipe 1: Chicken Burgers with Barbecue Onion Sauce

Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray (from her mag)

• 2 pounds ground chicken
• 2/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or pecorino romano cheese (a couple generous handfuls)
• 4 cloves garlic, finely grated
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fennel seeds, toasted
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• Grated peel and juice of 1 orange
• Salt and black pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), plus more drizzling
• 1/4 pound pancetta, chopped
• 2 red onions, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 4 crusty rolls, split
• 1 cup arugula leaves, shredded
• 1/2 head endive, chopped
• 1/2 head radicchio, chopped

1. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, cheese, garlic, rosemary, fennel seeds, crushed red pepper, allspice, orange peel and 1/4 teaspoon salt; season with black pepper. Form the mixture into 4 patties, pressing your thumb into the center of each to keep it from bulging as it cooks. Set the patties aside.
   
2. In a medium skillet set on the grill, heat 2 tablespoons EVOO, 2 turns of the pan. Add the pancetta and cook until crisp, 3 to 4 minutes, then add the onions and season with salt and lots of black pepper. Add the bay leaf and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the vinegar, honey, Worcestershire sauce and orange juice and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 6 to 7 minutes (if the sauce begins to dry out, stir in a little water).
   
3. Drizzle the patties liberally with EVOO. Grill until firm to the touch but still juicy, about 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate to rest for 5 minutes. Toast the rolls on the grill and drizzle with EVOO. Set aside.
   
4. In a medium bowl, toss together the lettuces; pile onto the roll bottoms. Top each with a patty, onion sauce and a roll top.
   
   Results: Not a fan.  I didn't enjoy the barbecue onion sauce at all.  That's partly because I don't really like balsamic vinegar.  It smells like feet to me.  It smelled good before the balsamic.  Even when I cooked it down I didn't really enjoy it.  I also didn't like the fennel seed that much.  I like it in sausage ordinarily but this time I wasn't really floored.   I don't see any reason to even try to tweak this recipe for me since there are so many more out there waiting for me.  I used spinach instead of those different lettuces.  I also halved the recipe.  I look happy in the pic because it was before I tasted it.  Lol.  At least it LOOKED good!