Beer-and-Beef Chili Sliders on Bacon Biscuits with Tomatillo Ketchup

August 2009

by 2 people

add your rating

It's going to be impossible to top last year's SXSW 7-Layer Sliders, but I think I've tied them. These little patties are moistened with beer, spiced like a chili and served on biscuits with tangy, smoky green "ketchup" made from tomatillos and poblano chiles.

Makes: 8 servings

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 1 hr

Ingredients

2 poblano chiles

8 slices bacon, chopped

1 8 ouncebox Jiffy buttermilk biscuit mix

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/4cup chopped chives

1/4cup yellow mustard

2 tablespoons honey

6 tomatillos--peeled, rinsed and chopped

1 small red onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

Salt and pepper

3/4pound ground beef chuck

3/4pound ground beef sirloin

1/2cup beer

1/4cup Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons chili powder (2 palmfuls)

2 tablespoons grill seasoning (2 palmfuls)

1 tablespoon sweet smoked paprika (1 palmful)

1 tablespoon ground cumin (1 palmful)

1 tablespoon ground coriander (1 palmful)

1 1/2teaspoons dried oregano (1/2 palmful)

2 tablespoons cilantro leaves

1 teaspoon grated peel plus the juice of 1 lime

Shredded lettuce, for serving

Directions

Preheat the broiler. Arrange the chiles on a broiler pan and broil, turning occasionally, until blackened all over, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Peel and discard the stems and seeds.
While the chiles are broiling, in a medium skillet, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crisp, about 7 minutes. Drain, reserving about 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat; crumble the bacon.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees . Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. In a large bowl, combine the biscuit mix with 1/2 cup water and whisk until a dough forms. Mix in the cheese, chives, mustard, honey, bacon and reserved bacon fat. Spoon 8 equal mounds of the biscuit dough onto a baking sheet and bake until golden, 10 minutes. Let cool for 2 minutes, then transfer to a rack and let cool completely; split.
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine the tomatillos, onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat until the onions and tomatillos are softened, 8 to 10 minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine the beef, beer, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, grill seasoning, paprika, cumin, coriander and oregano. Shape into 8 patties, about 1 1/2 inches thick. Add to the grill and cook, turning once, for 5 minutes for medium-rare.
Using a food processor, puree the tomatillo mixture, chiles, cilantro, lime peel and lime juice; season with salt and pepper.
Top each biscuit bottom with a little shredded lettuce, a beef patty, some tomatillo ketchup and a biscuit top; secure with a toothpick.