Cedar-Planked Burger

Name: Cedar-Planked Burger
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: 2 untreated cedar planks, each about 5 x 12 inches; 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 1 1/2 pounds assorted mushrooms (cremini, shiitake caps, morel, oyster), coarsely chopped; 2 shallots, thinly sliced; 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; Canola oil, for brushing; 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck (80 percent lean); Red Wine Barbecue Sauce (recipe follows); 8 (1/8-inch-thick) slices aged cheddar cheese; 4 hamburger buns, split and warmed; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 large shallots, coarsely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped; 2 tablespoons ground ancho chile; 1 tablespoon smoked sweet Spanish paprika; 1/4 teaspoon ground chile de árbol or cayenne; 1 cup dry red wine, such as Pinot Noir; 1 cup ketchup; 1 heaping tablespoon Dijon mustard; 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 canned chipotle chile in adobo, chopped; 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar; 1 tablespoon honey; 1 tablespoon molasses; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; (makes about 1 cup)

December 14, 2011

Cooking over cedar planks creates amazing flavor, infusing every bite with smoky complexity. And so I decided it was time for salmon to share the cedar love and give burgers some of that star treatment. It works. Since this is, after all, a method born in the Pacific Northwest, it only seems right to outfit the burger with toppings inspired by the region. A barbecue sauce made with Pinot Noir—the grape that put Oregon’s wine on the map—and an earthy sauté of wild mushrooms flavorfully fit the bill.

Recipe notes

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Rosemary and Dried Cherry Pork Chops

Rehydrating dried cherries in hot water turns them plump and juicy—exactly what you want scattered throughout a rosemary-scented pan sauce for pork chops.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Frijoles Peruanos (Peruvian Refried Beans)

Mayocobas, or canary beans, are the quick-cooking pantry ingredient you should know about.

Gochujang Turkey Sweet Potatoes

Fully loaded, meal-prep friendly, and ready to be dressed up, down, or sideways.