Beef and Chorizo Burger, Flavors of Arizona

Table of Contents

Toggle

Bite into the Southwest, it won’t sting.

Burgers are the best, let’s just face it. Crispy beef patties are asking to be topped with anything in your fridge, waiting to discover the perfect blankets of flavor. The ultimate challenge is all about creating that balance of texture, spice, sweetness, and savory without it being just ridiculous. Arizona inspires this beef and chorizo burger, topped with charred nopales, creamy muenster cheese, and refreshing cilantro crema.

Local Inspiration on a Bun

The local Arizona Beef Council approached me to create a new recipe featuring beef (surprise) for National Burger Month. My life has always been in Phoenix, born and raised in the desert. Naturally, creating a burger inspired by home and local culture came to mind.

Thinking of Arizona-inspired cuisine, the obvious ideas are Mexican food. Tacos, burritos, asado, barbacoa; all the good stuff we see in shops and stands. Let’s make sure there’s some chorizo for good measure (see below).

From Tacos to Burgers

Let’s quickly break down the schematics for this savory beef and chorizo burger:

• Carne Asada – The beef burger is the star, just like the steak in this dish. Let’s pull some of those flavors together.
• Chorizo – Adding in a little chorizo adds some sweet heat, also tying in the other ingredients. The crispy bits provide some texture as well.
• Nopales – Cactus you can grill, and it’s so good. These have a great texture and earthiness when charred, resembling grilled okra or green beans. Chorizo pairs extremely well nopales.
• Muenster cheese – Choosing this cheese might surprise you, but it’s commonly used regionally for Mexican food. This cheese has a profile that reminds me of queso Oaxaca but in slice-form, holding all of the crispy bits in place. The orange comes from annatto seeds, also used in making achiote paste, adobos, and al pastor.

Layering the Flavors

Building up a burger with chorizo and nopales considers some planning. Cooking everything on a flat top, skillet, or griddle makes the entire process really simple. Charring each of the ingredients becomes less stressful if you have enough room to slide things around. Utilizing a 2-zone cooking surface is the easiest way, that’s why I’m using a 2-burner flattop. I’ll leave one side for searing, and the second for keeping the food warm:

1. Char the nopales. These simply require some salt, and a hot surface. Char on medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes per side.
2. Cook the chorizo. Cautiously cook the chorizo, making sure not to burn it. This usually cooks quickly, and right before it’s done you can add in the nopales slices you just cooked. Move that over to the cooler side of the griddle.
3. Sear the burger. Set it down and don’t move it for a few minutes, until you form a nice crust. Flip and finish it on the second side.
4. Bond the topping with the cheese. Make a small pile of the nopales and chorizo, and lay a slice of the muenster on top. This will keep the ingredients together, so you can move it on top of the burger.

Beef and Chorizo Burger

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Arizona inspires this beef and chorizo burger, topped with charred nopales, creamy muenster cheese, and refreshing cilantro crema.

• Total Time: 20
• Yield: 2-3 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cilantro-Lime Crema

• 1/2 cup Mexican crema
• 1/8 cup cilantro leaves, finely chopped
• 2 tsp fresh lime juice
• salt to taste

Beef and Chorizo Burger

• 2 cactus paddles (nopales) trimmed and washed
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 fresh chorizo
• 2 beef burgers, 3-4oz each (80/20 preferred)
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp Mexican oregano
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 slices muenster cheese
• 2 buns, brioche

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Mix the ingredients together for the crema. Season and adjust. Keep in the fridge until needed.
2. Preheat the heating surface to medium-high heat. If using a flat top or griddle, set up a 2-zone area with the second side at low.
3. Lightly salt and sear the nopales for 3-4 minutes per side until lightly charred. Flip as needed. When cooked, remove from heat and slice into thin strips.
4. Cook the chorizo. Stir frequently, making sure it crisps but doesn’t burn. Right before it’s finished, stir in the nopales to mix together. Remove from heat. If using a flat top or griddle, move to the cooler side.
5. Toast the buns. We have that delicious chorizo fat for a reason.
6. Mix the salt, pepper, oregano, and garlic powder together. Season one side of the beef burger and sear it on the griddle, face down. Season the top of the burger. Allow it to crisp up on the bottom, about 3-4 minutes. Flip when you have a nice crust and continue to cook.
7. Divide the chorizo and cactus into small piles to go onto the burger. Place a slice of the muenster cheese on each pile. The cheese will melt, holding everything together. Slide this pile on top of the burger and continue to cook until the preferred temperature.
8. Build your buns with the crema, and then the burger and toppings.

Notes

I recommend using a lighter bun, such as brioche or white bread. The burger and toppings are heavier and rich so you want to make sure the bun isn’t as well.

• Author: Brad Prose
• Prep Time: 10
• Cook Time: 10
• Category: Beef
• Method: Griddle
• Cuisine: Burger

Recipe Card powered by