Jalapeño, Avocado and Bacon Burgers

Ingredients

• 4 jalapeño chiles , seeded, minced, divided
• 4 slices bacon
• 2 lbs ground beef, 80% to 85% lean
• 1/2 cup (about 2 oz ) crumbled feta or goat cheese
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup milk or sour cream
• 1 avocados, pitted and thinly sliced
• 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
• 4 hamburger buns

Directions

1. Preheat a grill to medium.
2. Cook the bacon in the skillet until crisp, about 5 minutes.
3. Discard all but 1 spoonful of bacon fat. Once cool chop the bacon and set aside.
4. In a large bowl, combine the chopped bacon, the r eserved bacon fat, the beef , half of the chiles , and a pinch of salt and pepper .
5. In a medium bowl, combine the feta, mayonnaise , milk , and the remaining chiles . Season with salt and pepper to taste , cover and refrigerate.
6. In another bowl, toss the avocados , cilantro , onion and 1 TBSP olive oil ; set aside.
7. Grill the burgers, flipping once, to desired temp, about 10 minutes for medium -rare. Just before the burgers are finished cooking, grill the buns until toasted if desired , about 1 minute.
8. Place a burger on each bun bottom, top with some of the avocado salad, drizzle with some of the feta dressing and set a bun top in place.

Notes

• For an added smoky flavor roast the jalapeños ahead of time on the grill or in a broiler, removing skin afterwards.
• Roasted jalapeños are better known as chipotles.