Mini Blue Cheese Smash Burger Tacos

For day 4 of my wine & appy series, AND for Malbec World Day, I made these adorable mini blue cheese smash burgers tacos and paired them with Argentine Malbec! The flavours in this thing though. Perfectly seasoned ground beef, creamy havarti, sweet caramalized onion jam, and salty blue cheese all work together to create something beautiful, and when you follow up each bite with a sip of this big bold red wine style, it’s just magic!

The Pairing

Malbec, especially younger Malbec, can be high in tannins and a bit mouthdrying. This is because those tannins (which come from the grape skins) bind to your salivary proteins, which can make your mouth feel a bit cottonball-y. This is where food comes in! When you pair high tannin red wines with rich fatty food, the fat actually prevents some of that tannin-to-protein binding, making the wine feel smoother on your palate! MAGIC. The saltiness from the cheese in this appy also helps to bring out some of those gorgeous flavours in Argentine Malbec, like dark fruit, chocolate, and sweet tobacco!

My Wine Recommendation

• YYC (Calgary) Link: Catena High Mountain Vines Malbec

• US Link: Catena High Mountain Vines Malbec

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Mini Blue Cheese Smash Burger Tacos

Yield: 12 mini tacos

Author: Stephanie Cameron

The cutest little tacos made with soft mini naan rounds! The flavour and texture combination will blow you away with the sweetness from the caramelized onion jam, the rich saltiness from the havarti and blue cheese, and the freshness from the pea shoots. Pair this with an Argentine Malbec for a perfect pairing experience!

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb ground beef
• 1 tbsp worchestershire sauce
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 12 mini naan rounds
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 12 havarti slices
• 1/4 cup caramelized onion jam (~ 1 tsp each)
• 1 cup creamy blue cheese, crumbled (~1-2 tbsp each)
• 1-1.5 cups of pea shoots

Instructions

1. Add ground beef to a medium mixing bowl, followed by worchestershire sauce, dijon mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Mix with your hands to fully incorporate the flavours into the beef.
2. Lay out your naan rounds. Place a golf-ball sized amount of beef in the center of each naan round. Flatten/press the meat into the naan, spreading right to the edges.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil followed by your prepared naan rounds, beef side down. Cover and allow to cook for 5-10 minutes, or until meat is browning and fully cooked through. You may need to do this in batches, so consider storing the ones you aren't frying in the fridge until you’re ready for them!
4. Once cooked, flip and cover beef with a slice of havarti cheese (1 each). Cover skillet with a lid to melt.
5. Once melted, add approximately 1 tsp of caramelized onion jam and 1-2 tbsp crumbled blue cheese cheese. Cover again for 1-2 minutes to allow blue cheese to melt slightly. Remove from pan and repeat with next batch if required (see notes for tips to keep them warm).
6. Top with pea shoots and serve immediately, folding them into mini tacos to eat!

Notes

If making these in a few batches, consider keeping the prepared tacos in a warm oven (around 200 degrees) while you cook the remaining tacos to keep them warm.

Recommended Products

Catena Malbec (US Link)

Catena Malbec (YYC link)

Nonstick Deep Frying Skillet

Luxbe - Crystal Wine Glasses 17-Ounce, Set of 4 - Heart Style

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