2 pounds ground venison (when we grind it we add 10% pork fat which helps a tiny bit)
3 tablespoons additional fat (I use bacon grease but olive oil or something like that works well also)
1 small yellow onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper FOR THE MARSALA SAUCE
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 shallots, minced
1 pound crimini mushrooms, sliced
2 teaspoons rubbed sage
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
½ cup water
1 cup marsala
¾ cup heavy cream
½ stick cold butter TO SERVE
Buns of your choice (to make the ones I made click here to use the dough instructions and then just shape into buns, see my instructions above)
Swiss cheese
Preparation Instructions
To make the burger patties, combine all the ingredients in large mixing bowl. Use your hands to mix it all together and then form into patties really pressing them together otherwise they crumble when you cook them. Set aside while you heat a grill or griddle to medium high.
To make the sauce add ½ cup water, shallots, mushrooms sage, salt and pepper to the pan. Allow it to cook until the mushrooms are just starting to soften and release their juices.
Add the marsala and heavy cream and cook until thick, about 10-15 minutes. (if you are at sea level 10 minutes should do it but those of us at high altitude will need more like 15 minutes or longer).
Once it is thickened, remove from heat and allow to cool about 5 minutes. Then add the cold butter, stirring until melted.
While the sauce is cooking add a little oil to your griddle if you are using one (one beautiful thing about venison is it sticks since there isn't much fat so you have to be really careful not to let it).
Cook the patties until medium well and have some nice charred bits on them, once you flip them over add the swiss cheese so it can get all melty.
To serve, place on half a bun and top with a generous amount of the sauce, add the top of the bun and you're good to go!
Recipe by Foods of Our Lives at https://www.foodsofourlives.com/2015/01/venison-marsala-burgers/