RED RIVER BURGERS To grill buns or bread, brush lightly with olive oil or butter; grill over medium coals for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until toasted, turning bread slices once. 1/2 cup chopped green onion or finely chopped white onion 2 tablespoons fine dry bread crumbs 2 red serrano peppers, seeded and finely chopped 3 canned chipotle peppers in abodo sauce, chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 pound lean ground beef 4 whole wheat hamburger buns, split, or eight 1-inch-thick slices of bread Roasted red pepper catsup, roasted garlic catsup, or other purchased flavored catsup (optional) 4 tomato slices (optional) Sliced red onion (optional) Red serrano peppers (optional)

Combine green onion or white onion, bread crumbs, serrano peppers, chipotle peppers, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add beef; mix well. Shape meat mixture into four 3/4-inch-thick patties.

For a charcoal grill, place patties on the grill rack directly over medium coals. Grill, uncovered, for 14 to 18 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a patty registers 160°F, turning once.

For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place patties on the grill rack; cover and grill as above.

Grill or toast buns or bread. Serve burgers on grilled or toasted buns or bread topped, if desired, with flavored catsup, tomato slices, red onion slices, and serrano peppers.

Makes 4 servings.

1 Serving: Calories: 352, Fat: 13g (Saturated: 5g), Cholesterol: 71mg, Sodium: 756mg, Carbohydrate: 32g, Protein: 25g.

[Simply Perfect Grilling 2001, Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications]