Pressed Cuban Style Burger

Ingredients

1 pound ground chuck
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup best-quality mayonnaise
3 cloves roasted garlic, pureed
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
4 hamburger buns with sesame seeds
8 slices thinly sliced Swiss cheese
4 slices thinly sliced smoked ham
2 dill pickles, sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices

Instructions

Form the meat into 4 (1/4-inch) thick burgers. Season the meat with salt and pepper on both sides and cook in a saute pan over high heat to medium doneness, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.

Combine the mayonnaise and roasted garlic in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spread both sides of each bun with mayonnaise and mustard. Place a slice of cheese on the bottom portion of each bun, place the burger on top of the cheese, then top the cheese with a slice of ham, followed by another slice of cheese and then the pickle slices. Place the tops of the bun over the pickles and cook on a sandwich press, or wrap the burgers in aluminum foil and cook in a hot skillet over high heat with a heavy skillet placed on top of the burger to press the sandwich. Cook until golden brown and cheese has melted.

Yield: 4 servings