Sage-Scented Veal Burgers with Fontina & Squash Rings

Ingredients

1/2 small butternut squash or 1 acorn squash, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced into 1/4-inch rings
EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for coating
Freshly grated nutmeg, for sprinkling
Salt and pepper
4 tablespoons butter
12 sage leaves
1 pound ground veal
1/2 pound 80% lean ground beef
1 large clove garlic, peeled and grated or pasted
A handful grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

3/4 pound Fontina Val D’Aosta or other Fontina cheese or taleggio cheese
Honey, for drizzling
4 sesame brioche rolls, split

Yields: 4

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°F. Lightly coat the squash with EVOO; season with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Roast until tender and browned at the edges, 18-22 minutes.

Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat until it foams. Increase the heat a touch and add the sage leaves. Cook until crisp, then transfer sage to paper towels with a slotted spoon to drain. Chop sage leaves. Reserve brown butter.

Combine the ground veal and beef with the chopped sage and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in the Parmigiano-Reggiano and form patties.

Preheat a griddle or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the burgers and cook 3-4 minutes on the first side, basting them with the reserved brown butter. Flip and top the burgers with cheese. Tent with foil to melt the cheese and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Drizzle the cooked squash with honey. Lightly toast the buns in a warm oven. Place the cheeseburgers on the roll bottoms, top with the squash rings and set the roll tops in place.