cherry burgers with goat cheese pesto

All you need:

Pesto

4 oz. plain goat cheese, room temperature

¼ cup packed fresh basil leaves

2 tablespoons Italian flat-leaf parsley

Juice of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon garlic powder

¼ cup toasted pine nuts

¼ cup olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Burgers

1 pound lean ground beef

½ cup fresh pitted and chopped sweet cherries

½ red onion, finely diced

¼ cup packed fresh basil leaves, chopped

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Crumbled goat cheese and chopped 

 fresh basil, for garnish

All you do:

1. Place pesto ingredients in a food processor. Process until smooth.

2. Combine burger ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Shape into 4 patties.

3. Preheat grill to medium and cook burger for 6 minutes per side (for medium), or until desired doneness.

4. Spoon pesto onto serving plates and top with burgers. Garnish with crumbled goat cheese and fresh basil. Serves 4.

By Jen Plaggemars, private chef, registered dietitian and owner of Chef Jen LLC