Spicy Mama Mia Meatball Burgers

Mama Mia Meatball Burgers 

with Sweet Heat Roasted Pepper Marinara and Garlic Bread Buns

My entry in The 2015 Saucy Mama Blogger Recipe Contest, is this crunchy, Meatball-styled, Grilled burger, topped with a spicy, Roasted Pepper and Sun-dried Tomato Marinara, and served on a toasted garlic bread bun.
Inspired by a request of my husbands, to make a meatball sub into a gourmet burger, I've had the idea for this burger in the back of my mind for almost a year. I knew right away, when I tasted the Saucy Mama Sweet Heat Marinade that I had the exact ingredient to finally make this burger a reality.
The Saucy Mama Sweet Heat Marinade has a tangy zip that brings this Marinara Sauce to life, and is the perfect topping for a crunchy, meatball-styled Burger.

Garlic Bread Buns

8 small Kaiser rolls, split
6 T Butter, melted
8 T Saucy Mama Parmesan Garlic Marinade
1 T minced garlic
2 T ground Italian seasoning
2 Cups Shredded Cheese Blend

Whisk butter into Saucy Mama Sauce slowly, until blended, mix in garlic and Italian seasoning. Chill in fridge for 10 minutes, to allow easier spreading. Spread onto split buns and bake for 5 minutes at 400 degrees. Remove tops from pan, and sprinkle cheese blend onto bottom buns. Bake for 2 more minutes.



* For Shredded Cheese Blend I used Provolone, Parmesan, and Fontina* 

Sweet Heat Roasted Pepper Marinara

1 T Olive Oil
1 T Butter
1/4 Cup Sun-dried Tomatoes, diced
1/4 Cup Red Onion, finely diced.
1 T Minced Garlic
1 T Ground Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
1/4 Cup Roasted or Fresh, Red Peppers, diced
4 oz Tomato Paste
1 Cup Beef Stock
1/2 Cup Saucy Mama Sweet Heat Marinade

In Saucepan, Saute sun-dried tomatoes and red onions in butter and oil for 5 minutes on medium high heat.
Add garlic and Italian seasoning, continue to simmer another minute until garlic begins to turn golden-brown. 
Add Roasted Peppers and Paste. Mix well, then allow to brown in pan, cooking another 3 to 5 minutes. 
De glaze pan with beef stock, and stir until bits stuck on pan loosen.
Reduce heat to simmer, add Saucy Mama Sweet Heat Marinade, Continue to cook on low heat until sauce is reduced. 

The Meatball Burger Patty

2 lbs Ground beef blend of your choice

4 Tablespoons Saucy Mama Cracked Pepper Marinade

2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning

2 Tablespoons Burger Seasoning of your choice

1 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs

Form 8 burger patties. Brush each patty with Saucy Mama Cracked Pepper Marinade. Mix Italian Seasoning with Burger seasoning, and sprinkle generously over each patty. Sprinkle each with Panko, and gently press in. Flip each patty over, and repeat process of brushing with sauce, sprinkling with seasons and Panko, and pressing.
roll each burger, like a wheel, in leftover bread crumbs.
Refrigerate until ready to grill.
Grill to temperature preference.

Note - Because these are burgers and NOT meatballs, we don't cook them all the way through, but chose to serve them cooked medium rare to medium. My intention was to have all of the flavors of a meatball, while keeping the patty a burger. This is why I do not mix the seasonings and breadcrumbs into the patty, and chose to coat them instead. The result is a juicy burger patty with a crunchy texture, and the flavors of a meatball. 

Toppings

 Brush sliced Red Onion and Red Peppers with Saucy Mama Sweet Heat Marinade, sprinkle Italian Seasoning, and bake for 15 minutes at 425. Flip half way through cooking.

Use roasted vegetables in Marinara, and to top burgers.

To purchase Saucy Mama Sweet Heat Marinade, Saucy Mama Parmesan Garlic Marinade, or Saucy Mama Cracked Pepper Marinade, or any of their gourmet sauces,marinades, or mustard, Visit Barhyte Specialty Foods.

The 2015 Saucy Mama Blogger Recipe Contest is a World Food Championship Preferred Qualifying Event. The winner will receive a Golden Ticket to compete at the 2015 WFC, this November in Kissimmee, Florida, $500 Cash Prize and $1,000 Travel Stipend for travel to the WFC. 

The World Food Championships is THE cooking event at the end of every year. Over 400 Chefs, Professional Competitors, and Home Cooks will gather in front of thousands of fans to face off in a 9-category showdown to find the best. At the end of the week-long competition, one lucky competitor will hold the title of World Food Champion and a check for $100,000!

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