Barbecue Cheeseburgers

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 
• 0.3 cup apricot preserves 
• 2  avocados sliced
• 1.5 tablespoons chili powder 
• 2 cloves garlic chopped
• 2.5 pounds ground beef chuck 
• 0.8 cup catsup 
• 6 servings kosher salt and pepper freshly ground
• 6 slices pepper jack cheese 
• 1  onion red chopped
• 1  onion red sliced into rings
• 6  sesame seed hamburger buns split
• 1 tablespoon soya sauce 
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce 
• 3 tablespoons mustard yellow

Equipment

• bowl
• sauce pan
• blender
• grill

Directions

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes.
3. Add the chili powder and cook, stirring, until toasted, about 1 minute. Stir in the ketchup, preserves, mustard, vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
4. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth; let cool to room temperature.
5. Combine the ground beef and 3 tablespoons of the prepared barbecue sauce in a bowl; mix with your hands until just combined. Form the meat into six 1/2-inch-thick patties; season both sides with salt and pepper.
6. Preheat a grill to medium. Toss the onion with 1 tablespoon of the barbecue sauce and the vegetable oil. Grill (use a grill basket if you have one), turning occasionally, until lightly charred, about 8 minutes.
7. Transfer 1/2 cup of the remaining barbecue sauce to a separate bowl for brushing. Increase the grill temperature to medium high and grill the patties, brushing with the barbecue sauce and flipping occasionally, about 8 minutes for medium rare; top with the cheese during the last minute and cover to melt. Toast the buns on the grill.
8. Serve the burgers on the buns; top with the grilled onions, avocado slices and more barbecue sauce.
9. Photograph by Anna Williams