The Deli-licious Burger

As a cystic fibrosis patient, I am often found eating a late snack. One night, I had a craving for this combination of cream cheese and olives on my pastrami on rye sandwich. The burger developed from a late night snack into a grilled burger that we often share with family and friends. I think it is an ideal meal for a cystic fibrosis patient, especially during the summer grilling season because it has lots of salt and is high in protein and calories. Although he receives a mini-burger, even my five year old is a fan of this full-flavor burger.

By: Damian P.

Nutrition information

Servings: 6

Amount per serving

  • 920
    Calories
  • 2020mg
    Sodium
  • 64g
    Protein
  • 106mg
    Calcium

Ingredients

  • 8 oz cream cheese, brought to room temperature
  • 6.75 oz Spanish olives stuffed with pimentos, liquid drained and coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 c balsamic vinegar
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp Tabasco sauce
  • 2 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • 2 lb 90/10 ground beef sirloin
  • 2 Tbsp A-1 sauce
  • 6 Italian ciabatta bread rolls
  • 6 Tbsp room temperature butter
  • 12 large leaves of basil
  • 12 pieces very thinly sliced pastrami
  • 1 large vine-ripened tomato, thinly sliced into 6 slices

Instructions

Step 1
In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, olives with pimentos, balsamic vinegar, Tabasco and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well and set aside.

Step 2
Combine the ground sirloin, 1 teaspoon black pepper and A-1 steak sauce in a small bowl.

Step 3
Form mixture into 6 - 1/3 pound burgers. Make sure to pack the meat into tight patties.

Step 4
Heat grill or grill pan to high heat and spray with cooking spray, then place burgers on grill and cook for 5-7 minutes.

Step 5
Spray tops of patties and flip, cooking another 5-7 minutes before removing from grill.

Step 6
Cut ciabatta rolls in half, spread butter on each side. Place on grill as burgers are finishing and slightly toast before removing from grill.

Step 7
Take the bottom of a ciabatta roll and generously spread cream cheese sauce. Then place a couple of the basil leaves on top. Top with two slices of Pastrami and then the cooked burger.

Step 8
Place a slice of tomato on top of the burger and then generously sauce the top ciabatta roll, placing sauce side down on the tomato.

Step 9
It is best to cut these burgers in half to serve.