Jalapeño Burgers with Goat Cheese & Smoky Roasted Carrots

Step 1

1 Prepare & roast the carrots Remove the honey from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature. Place an oven rack in the center of the oven, then preheat to 450°F. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Line a sheet pan with foil. Peel the carrots; halve crosswise, then quarter lengthwise. Place on the sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil; season with salt, pepper, and enough of the spice blend to coat (you may have extra). Toss to coat; arrange in an even layer. Roast 17 to 19 minutes, or until browned and tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from the oven.

Step 2

2 Prepare the remaining ingredients Meanwhile, halve the buns. Cut off and discard the stem of the pepper. Halve lengthwise; remove the ribs and seeds, then thinly slice crosswise. Thoroughly wash your hands and cutting board immediately after handling. In a bowl, whisk together the honey (kneading the packet before opening), vinegar, and a drizzle of olive oil. Add the sliced pepper; season with salt and pepper. Stir to coat. Set aside to marinate, stirring occasionally, at least 10 minutes. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired.

Step 3

3 Form & cook the patties Meanwhile, place the beef in a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Gently mix to incorporate. Form the mixture into two ½-inch-thick patties. In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the patties. Cook 4 to 5 minutes per side (flipping carefully, as the oil may splatter), or until browned and cooked through.* Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a plate. *An instant-read thermometer should register 160°F.

Step 4

4 Finish & serve your dish Add the halved buns, cut side down, to the same pan. Toast on medium-high 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until lightly browned. Transfer to a work surface. In a bowl, combine the goat cheese and dijonnaise. Assemble the burgers using the toasted buns, goat cheese sauce, cooked patties, and as much of the marinated pepper as you’d like (discarding any liquid), depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Serve the burgers with the roasted carrots on the side. Enjoy!