Siciliano Burger with Fresh Ciliegine and Sweet Tomato Butter

Siciliano Burger with Fresh Ciliegine and Sweet Tomato Butter

Ingredients

 Sweet Tomato Butter

3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil

 2 tablespoons oil from sun-dried tomatoes

 1 teaspoon mild honey

 1/2 cup red flame seedless grapes (substitute green grapes, if necessary)

 2 tablespoons plus one teaspoon brine-packed capers, rinsed and drained

 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped

 Salt

 Freshly ground black pepper

 Patties

1 pound ground veal

 3/4 pound ground beef

 4 garlic cloves, minced

 1/2 cup fresh Italian bread crumbs

 1/4 cup pine nuts

 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

 Large pinch of ground cayenne

 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, ground in spice grinder

 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste

 Freshly ground black pepper

 6 ciliegine (1/3-ounce fresh mozzarella cheese balls)

Vegetable oil, for brushing on the grill rack

 12 radicchio leaves, trimmed to fit the bread

 Oil from sun-dried tomatoes, for brushing on the radicchio

 6 (3 by 4-inch) pieces Italian bread, preferably rosemary-semolina bread, halved lengthwise

 Directions

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.

To make the tomato butter, combine the tomatoes, oil, honey, and grapes in a food processor and process to a paste. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the capers and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.

To make the patties, combine the veal, beef, garlic, bread crumbs, nuts, cinnamon, cayenne, and rosemary in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and flatten into 6 disks. Place 1 ciliegine in the center of each disk, then bring up the meat to enclose the cheese in the middle. Form into six patties to fit the bread sections.

When the grill is ready, brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once, until done to preference, 5 to 7 minutes on each side for medium. Meanwhile, brush the radicchio lightly with tomato oil and grill until charred but still crisp, about 4 minutes. During the last few minutes of cooking, place the bread, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly.

To assemble the burgers, spread the tomato butter over the cut sides of the bread. On each bread bottom, place a radicchio leaf, a patty, and another radicchio leaf. Add the bread tops and serve.

Makes 6 burgers