Insanity Burger From 'Jamie Oliver's Comfort Food'

"This recipe gets some surprising twists that make it a perfect worth-a-try-even-if-you're-sick-of-burgers burger. [Photograph: David Loftus] There are those of you who might be wondering why you need yet another burger recipe, and then there are those who just can't get enough. This burger from Jamie Oliver's Comfort Food is for both of you: it delivers classic flavor all juiced up and a little weird, in a wonderful way. Oliver takes the traditional components and gets kinda nutty with them, adding slight twists that really do make this a worth-a-try-even-if-you're-sick-of-burgers burger. The onions are dressed with vinegar, the cheese is slightly tangy Red Leicester, the bacon and pickles are...bacon and pickles. Then he takes finely chopped iceberg lettuce and mixes it into a sauce that one might say is 'special'—mayo and ketchup with chipotle Tabasco, Worcestershire, and a splash of booze (just go with it; it works and is silly good). The burger itself gets glazed with mustard and more of the smoky Tabasco while it cooks, then it's all piled on a seeded brioche bun, which has been briefly toasted in the bacon fat. Bonkers. You'll have juice up to your elbows and a plate full of run-off that you will want to wipe clean with a torn piece of bun or your tongue, depending on how insane it makes you feel. Why I picked this recipe: I fall into the just-can't-get-enough camp. What worked: It all worked, except for the eventual structural failure of the bun. What didn't: Not a complaint, but just a heads-up: Things can get a little hairy if your bacon needs tending when you're supposed to be basting your burgers, and it does need to be perfectly done just at the moment your burger is ready for it, to avoid overcooking the meat. That said, his timing did work for me. Suggested tweaks: I don't see why you couldn't cook your bacon beforehand, if you want a more relaxed experience; just remember to heat the grease back up in time to toast the buns. If you can't find Red Leicester cheese, a mild cheddar would work well in its place. Thanks to the wonderful people at Ecco, we have 5 copies of Jamie Oliver's Comfort Food to give away this week. From Jamie Oliver's Comfort Food by Jamie Oliver. Copyright 2014 Jamie Oliver. Excerpted by permission of Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers...."