Fugetaboutit Burgers

A few years ago, Red Robin had the most wonderful featured burger, it was only available only for a short time...(~queue the Italian Mafia music~) The "Wise Guy".  It was like a meatball sandwich on crack!  Marinara and fried cheese sticks(!) atop a big ole burger, garnished with pepperoni and banana pepper rings.  oh.  my.  word.  Needless to say, it was a nutritionist's nightmare...it was delicious.

We normally hit up the Red Robin once every couple of months.  That month we went back twice!  We even convinced the kitchen to keep making them after the promotion had ended, and they happily accommodated our requests.  Eventually, they discontinued ordering the mozzarella sticks and banana peppers.  no.  more.  Wise Guys.  ( ~tear~ )  So this is an ode to my favorite discontinued Red Robin burger....

The Fugetaboutit Burger.  Ironic because you will not forget about it, it will haunt you in your dreams.  It will show up wearing a velour track suit, with its hair slicked back, with its pinkie rings all a bling, and with its gold medallion rope chain..."how YOU doin'?"

With a few adjustments we can shave off a few calories...I opted to bake the mozzarella sticks vs. frying them, I used part-skim string cheese, and reduced fat pepperoni.  I also added some fresh basil, and garlic-bread-erized the buns.  Are the Nutritionists going to now accept this with open arms?  Probably not. 

Trial and error taught me to put the cheese sticks beneath the burger, it holds them in place - otherwise the cheese sticks will slide off, and who wants that?  See!  The cheese sticks need to be beneath the burger.  Learn from my mistakes.  

Here we go!

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Fugetaboutit Burgers

makes 4 burgers

inspired by Red Robin's Wise Guy Burger

4 ~ 6oz hamburger patties

1 ~ 8ct package mozzarella string cheese

1 TBS flour

1 egg, beaten

2 TBS breadcrumbs, seasoned

2 TBS breadcrumbs, panko

4 bulkie sandwich rolls

4 TBS butter, divided

1 tsp garlic powder, divided

20 slices of pizza pepperoni

1 cup marinara sauce, plus additional for serving

a handful of fresh basil leaves

1/4 cup banana pepper rings

For the mozzarella sticks:

Preheat oven to 450.  Get three shallow bowls; one for flour, one for egg, one four breadcrumbs - dredge string cheese in flour, dip in egg, cover in breadcrumbs.  Bake for 10 minutes on foil/parchment lines sheet pan.  

While the cheese sticks are in the oven, grill the burgers until desired level of doneness (I prefer medium, with some pink) and start on the garlic bread-buns.

For the garlic bread-buns:

Heat a large nonstick pan or griddle over medium-high heat.  On the insides of rolls spread 1 TBS of butter, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, a pinch of salt & pepper - distributing on both the tops and bottoms of the rolls.  Toast, butter-side-down on griddle until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes.  

How to assemble:

On garlic-toasted bun, add two mozzarella sticks,

top with 2 TBS marinara sauce,

add the burger,

top with another 2 TBS marinara,

add fresh basil,

add the pepperoni,

add the banana peppers,

top with garlic-toasted bun top.

Serve with additional marinara sauce on the side for dipping.  Have plenty of napkins on hand for eating.  

I GOT YA' FUGETABOUTIT BURGER RIGHT HEEERRREEE!

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