New Mexico Green Chile and Frito Burgers

New Mexico Green Chile and Frito Burgers
Serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound ground chuck
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided
2 fresh Hatch or Anaheim chiles (4 oz. total) or 1 can (7 oz.) Hatch* or regular green chiles, sliced
4 slices (4 oz.) pepper jack cheese
2 cups Fritos
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons chipotle barbecue sauce
4 kaiser rolls, split

Preparation

1. Heat grill to medium (350 to 450). Mix ground chuck, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until just combined (do not overmix). Divide into 4 portions and form into 1/2-in. patties with a slight depression in the center of each to help them cook evenly. Brush with 1 tsp. oil.

2. Rub fresh chiles with remaining 1 tsp. oil. Grill over high heat, turning often, until blackened, about 4 minutes. Cover with a towel to steam, about 10 minutes. When cool, rub off skins, then stem, seed, and slice chiles into strips.

3. Grill burgers until cooked the way you like, about 7 minutes for medium. In last few minutes, lay a cheese slice on each burger and lay split rolls on grill.

4. Arrange burgers on bottom of buns and top with one-quarter of chiles and Fritos. Mix mayonnaise and barbecue sauce and dollop about 2 tsp. onto each burger. Set tops of rolls in place.

*Canned Hatch green chiles are available in some grocery stores.