Super Bowl Week Pt.2  – Saluting the Denver Broncos!  

Everyone has their own Super Bowl traditions, ours is to make and serve game fare that celebrates the two teams that made it all the way to the National Championship.  I showcased the Carolina Panthers on Monday and now it’s Denver’s turn!  

I thought long and hard about foods that (to me) are quintessential Denver.   I conferred with several websites — and my good friend and former Denver resident, Nola.  Chili was the overall favorite, but stupid me, I posted that recipe two weeks ago.  I wasn’t thinking!  Next up were spicy Southwestern dishes, like enchiladas, or tacos three ways – also good options, but I’d done them before.  We settled on buffalo.

When I say buffalo – I don’t mean some knock off of chicken wings from the northeast.  I mean buffalo as in “Home, Home On The Range”.  Buffalo as in bison.  Naturally grass-fed, lean, tender, delicious.  This meat doesn’t require a lot of handling or cooking to yield juicy, Oh-ma-Gawd, eyes-rolling-back in your head sliders.  You’re welcome.

To make these sliders extra spicy and extra special I topped them with a garlicky blackened chili aioli!  To blacken the chilies, roast them over an open flame (like your grill or gas cooktop) or just roast them in a hot oven.  When the chilies have cooled peel off the skins and remove the seeds, then plop them in your mini prep food processor along with the garlic.  Mix that blend with some mayonnaise and lemon and refrigerate until the burgers are done.  With three types of roasted chili peppers, this aioli has a tingly kick you’ll want to spread on everything. 

Scott (strongly) suggested that we add bacon to these burgers.  Surprise, surprise.  And not just any bacon – house cured bacon from M.E.A.T, a local burger joint that specializes in over-the-top burgers and even-more-outrageous sides.  Of course, you can use any bacon you like, but I would recommend a thick sliced variety.  (Side note: Scott has been talking big smack about curing and smoking his own bacon — so stay tuned!)

Slice the bacon into pieces to fit the slider (about 2-3″ long) and crisp it in a cast-iron skillet.  Cool the bacon on a platter lined with paper towels or newspaper, then make the burgers by  rolling the bison into meatballs.  The meatballs go in the same skillet you cooked the bacon in.  

press the balls into patties with the flat side of a spatula or burger press

Yes, I said skillet.  Normally, we would grill our burgers, but for this recipe, I wanted the crusty sear that only a cast iron skillet can give – if you don’t have one — get one.  They’re inexpensive and cook evenly without hotspots.   Trust me, they weren’t your grandmother’s cooking-vessel of choice for no reason.  

Anyway, place the meatballs in the skillet and use a sturdy flat surface, like a spatula to press the meatball into a patty, this gives them that craggy, uneven, made-in-a-diner look.  Sear on both sides and begin to build your sliders with plenty of bacon, cheese and that oozy-hot chili-aioli.  And enjoy the game!

Chili Aioli Buffalo Sliders

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 8

Calories: 869 kcal

Buffalo meat is leaner and healthier than ground beef and tastes fab.  Just so it's not too healthy -we've added bacon and cheese!

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Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground bison
• 2 large poblano peppers
• 1 jalapeno pepper
• 3 hatch chili or anaheim peppers
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
• 1 lemon
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt use 1/4, then if more is needed add to your taste.
• 1/4 pound bacon
• 16 slider rolls

Suggested Accompaniments

• 6 slices Colby or jack cheese slices, quartered
• sliced tomato
• romaine iceberg or boston lettuce
• red onion thinly sliced
• jalapeño peppers thinly sliced
• sliced avocado

Instructions

1. Preheat the grill to 450 degrees and place the peppers directly on the grates. (See note below if you don't have a grill) Cook until the peppers are blackened and blistered all over, then transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap until cool enough to handle. Peel the peppers and remove the stem and seeds. Place the peppers in the bowl of a mini-prep food processor. Add the garlic and pulse until peppers are finely minced.
2. Mix the peppers and mayonnaise in a medium bowl, stirring until well combined. Using a microplane grater, zest the lemon. Add the zest to the pepper mixture. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice from half the lemon into the pepper mixture. Season with kosher salt to taste. Refrigerate until ready to use.
3. Cut the bacon into 2"-3" pieces and place in a cold cast iron skillet. Heat the skillet over medium to medium high heat, cooking the bacon and flipping it occasionally until crisp and golden. Transfer the bacon to a platter lined with paper towels or newspaper and let the bacon drain. Set the pan aside, but don't drain the bacon fat.
4. Divide the buffalo meat into 16 equal portions and gently form them into balls (don't overwork the meat).
5. Working in batches, heat the cast iron skillet over medium high heat and when the bacon fat is good and hot, carefully place a few meat balls into the pan. Use a spatula or burger press to flatten the burger to about 1/2" thick. Do this for each of the burgers in the pan. Cook 1-2 minutes and carefully flip the burgers to cook the other side. 1-2 minutes per side for medium rare.
6. Transfer the burgers to a platter and continue to cook the other burgers.
7. To assemble the sliders, add a heaping tablespoon of the chili aioli to the bottom bun, add a slice of tomato, the burger, cheese, jalapeños, 1-2 slices of cooked bacon and lettuce. Eat up.

Recipe Notes

If you have a gas stovetop, you can place the peppers directly over the flame to char them.
If you don't have a grill or gas stove, preheat the oven to 400 degrees, place peppers on a sheet pan and cook until, blackened on the outside, about 20-30 minutes, then proceed with the recipe.

Nutrition Facts

Chili Aioli Buffalo Sliders

Amount Per Serving

Calories 869 Calories from Fat 576

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 64g 98%

Saturated Fat 18g 90%

Cholesterol 126mg 42%

Sodium 642mg 27%

Potassium 506mg 14%

Total Carbohydrates 37g 12%

Dietary Fiber 3g 12%

Sugars 7g

Protein 33g 66%

Vitamin A 8.3%

Vitamin C 51.6%

Calcium 21.8%

Iron 29.1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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