Pimiento Cheeseburgers with Bacon Jam

Ingredients

BACON JAM:

• 1/4 pound slab bacon, finely diced (1/3 cup)
• 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons brewed coffee
• 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• Kosher salt
• Pepper

PIMIENTO CHEESE:

• 6 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded (1 1/2 cups)
• 1 ounce cream cheese (2 tablespoons), at room temperature
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup drained and chopped jarred pimientos
• 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
• 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
• 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

BURGERS:

• 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck, preferably 20% fat
• Kosher salt
• Pepper
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 4 potato rolls, split and toasted
• Sliced dill pickles and thinly sliced scallions, for serving

Directions

1. Make the bacon jam In a medium skillet, cook the bacon over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate to drain. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat from the skillet. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Return the bacon to the skillet along with the coffee, soy sauce, vinegar and both sugars. Cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the liquid is reduced and the jam is thick and glossy, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Scrape the bacon jam into a small bowl and let cool to room temperature.
2. Meanwhile, make the pimiento cheese In a medium bowl, combine the cheeses, mayonnaise, pimientos, garlic, gochujang, Worcestershire, and pepper and mix until evenly combined.
3. Make the burgers Form the beef into four ¾-inch-thick patties and season with salt and pepper. In a large cast-iron skillet set on the grate of a preheated grill or on the stovetop, heat the oil. Cook the burgers over moderate heat until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook, covered, until browned and medium-rare, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a work surface and let rest for 5 minutes.
4. Place a burger on each roll bottom. Top with some of the pimiento cheese, bacon jam, sliced pickles and scallions. Close the burgers and serve.