Tournedo Burgers with Pizzaiola Butter

Airs on: June 20, 2013, March 7, 2013

Ingredients

4 6- to 8-ounce beef tournedo filets about 1 inch thick, at room temperature
Coarse salt and pepper
EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil or vegetable oil, for drizzling
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 shallot, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 cup dry vermouth
4 slices fresh mozzarella
4 brioche buns, lightly toasted

Yields: 4

Preparation

Preheat a large, heavy skillet, preferably cast-iron, over medium-high heat. Season the meat with salt and pepper.

Drizzle a little oil into the hot pan. Add the beef and cook, turning once, until nicely browned, about 6 minutes.

While the burgers cook, in a small bowl, mash together the butter, shallot, garlic, tomato paste, parsley, Worcestershire and oregano with a fork.

Remove burgers from the skillet and tent loosely with folk to keep warm. To the skillet, stir in the vermouth over medium-high heat and scrape up any browned bits. Add the butter mixture and let simmer for 2-3 minutes.

Layer the mozzarella on the bottoms of the burger buns. Top with a burger and one-quarter of the butter-tomato mixture so it melts down over the meat and is soaked into the bun bottoms. Cover with the bun tops and serve.