A1b Bacon Burger Bites on White Polenta Cakes #A1

Name: A1b Bacon Burger Bites on White Polenta Cakes #A1
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 16 mini burgers
Ingredients: 1 cup milk; 2 cups water; 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 2 tablespoons salt; 1 cup polenta; 1/2 cup goat cheese; 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; 4 slices bacon; 4 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 lb ground turkey; 1/4 cup A.1. Original Sauce; 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper; 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 4 squares each

Community Pick

Submitted by Jodi Taffel

"A.1. Original Sauce Recipe Contest Entry. These little nibbles are sure to wow your guests The tangy bite of the A1 Sauce juxtaposed against the creaminess of the polenta cake will make you the hostess with the mosses!"

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photo by Jodi Taffel

Ready In:: 1hr 20mins
Ingredients:: 13
Yields:: 16 mini burgers

ingredients

FOR POLENTA CAKES
1 cup milk
2 cups water
¹⁄₈ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons salt
1 cup polenta
¹⁄₂ cup goat cheese
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
FOR BURGERS
4 slices bacon
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 lb ground turkey
¹⁄₄ cup A.1. Original Sauce
¹⁄₄ teaspoon cracked black pepper
4 slices sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 4 squares each

directions

FOR POLENTA CAKES:
Combine milk, water, cayenne and salt in a saucepan over low heat and bring to a boil.
Using a whisk, add the polenta. Once the polenta is combined, switch to a wooden spoon and stir frequently until the polenta has become thick and smooth. Stir in the goat cheese. Keep stirring until all the goat cheese is melted and blended in to the polenta.
Line a 9x13 pan with plastic wrap. Pour the polenta into the pan, cover with more plastic wrap and smooth the surface. Chill in the refrigerator overnight.
When ready to use, remove the polenta from the pan. Using a cookie cutter approximately the same size as the burgers (I used a shot glass), cut 16 polenta cake rounds. add about 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a sauté pan over medium heat, and cook the polenta cakes on both sides until golden brown.
FOR BURGERS:
Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
Put brown sugar in a shallow bowl or pie plate. Coat the bacon liberally on both sides with the brown sugar. Place bacon on a parchment lined baking sheet and cook in the oven 20 minutes or until bacon is crisp. When the bacon is cool enough to touch, crumble it and set it aside.
Add any leftover brown sugar to a bowl with the ground turkey, A1 sauce, and black pepper. Gently mix until all the ingredients are combined.
Form the turkey mixture into 16 balls, roughly the same size. Flatten the balls into mini burger shapes. Poke each burger a few times with a toothpick. (This releases air and ensures the burgers don't shrink too much).
Pre-heat a non-stickskillet over medium-high heat. Cook the burgers in two batches, 2 minutes per side. During the last 30 seconds, place 1 cheddar cheese square on each burger and put a lid on the pan (to melt the cheese).
Place 1 burger on each polenta cake and top with some crumbled bacon. Serve hot.

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Reviews

Great recipe! Polenta cakes and burgers compliment each other well. These will definitely be in our rotation.

jsnteacher
I generally find polenta a dry, bland side. However, the A1b bacon burgers are anything but. Tasty, tender, tangy!

ms_burnham
I made these for my mah jongg club gals..went to get the camera to take a photo and the burger bites were all gone! The A1 sauce was the kicker with the girls..they kept asking for the recipe. I used cheddar and swiss cheeses..next time bleu cheese! Delicious and versatile burgers!

Lauren M.
So tasty - a total crowd pleaser

Mauricio M.
These are pretty damn awesome. The combination of the goat cheese and the A1 work so well together!

davidschneider