Bleu Cheese Beefalo Burgers with Horseradish Sauce

   Beefalo?  Yes.  Beefalo.  It sounds like a crazy fantasy animal, but they are real!  Beefalo are fertile hybrids of American beef cattle (5/8 parts) and American bison (3/8 parts).  In middle Tennessee, if you happen to be driving down 96 and pass the wholesale and retail C&F Meat Co., you'll see what look like cows on some serious steroids.  Those are beefalo.

   The meat is moderately low in fat and cholesterol, about a third the amount in regular beef, and much lower in saturated fat.  Obviously, high in protein and iron, beefalo is also very high in vitamin B12 (more than 100% DV!)  While bison does taste slightly different than beef, the flavor of beefalo is pretty much the same.  Personally, I find that it tastes more like beef than beef if we are considering the ground meat.  I find that ground beef can have a tinny taste because of the extra blood many butchers add into the meat to make it that nice, bright red.  (For more information on beefalo, visit the sites at the bottom of the post.)

   This recipe is really easy.  Ridiculously easy in fact and kind of neat because you are stuffing a burger.  (I can't claim this technique as original... I think Rachael Ray was the pioneer of stuffing burgers.)  The same process can be done with any ground meat.  And the horseradish sauce is great for a variety of dishes.

Bleu Cheese Beefalo Burgers
1 lb ground beefalo
4 oz bleu cheese, crumbled*
~1 Tbsp steak grill seasoning

   Divide meat into four equal portions.  Divide each of those in half.  For each burger, press the two portions of meat into equal sized patties.  These patties will be very thin, be careful not to break them or have any holes.  Place 1 oz of cheese in the center of 4 patties, leave a small border.  Place another patty on top and press the edges together to seal.  Sprinkle each side with grill seasoning or just salt and pepper.
   Grill over direct medium heat for 5 min a side.
OR
   Heat a small amount of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook 4-5 min per side.
   Serve on your favorite bun with horseradish sauce and baby spinach.  4 Servings.

Horseradish Sauce
3 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 tsp deli style or stone ground mustard
2-3 tsp horseradish (the real grated kind, not the pre-made sauce)

Combine all ingredients.  About 4 servings.

More Information and Where to Order/Buy Beefalo:
American Beefalo Association
Beefalo Meats
Nebraska's Finest
C & F Meat Co. (Does not ship; Mid TN retail location)