Summer Sliders with a Spicy Kick

Summer calls for firing up the grill for a fresh-cooked meal, and sliders are an ideal way to enjoy a downsized version of a warm weather favorite.

These Mexican Beef Sliders with Jalapeno Salsa and Avocado Cream are perfect for summer with their spicy kick of salsa and bright, cooling cream. Made with grass-fed beef from New Zealand, where the animals are allowed to roam and graze freely over lush green hills and pastures year-round, the mini burgers boast a lean, finely textured meat that tastes just as nature intended.

Find more tasty summer recipes at beefandlambnz.com.

Mexican BeefSliders withJalapeño Salsa and AvocadoCream Recipe courtesy of Beef+ Lamb New Zealand Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Servings: 4

Patties:

• 11/3 pound slean New Zealand grass-fed ground beef

•1 clove garlic, crushed

•1medium onion, grated or finely chopped

• 1 egg, lightly b ea ten

•3/4 cup red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

•2 tablespoons tomato paste

•3 teaspoons dried oregano, chopped

•2 teaspoons mild smoked paprika

• 2 teaspoons ground cumin

•1 teaspoon ground coriander

•1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

• salt, to taste

• pepper, to ta ste

• olive oil

Jalapeño Salsa:

•1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced into long ribbons

•3/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

•1 red onion, fine ly sliced

•1/2 cup pickled jalapeños, fine ly chopped

• salt, to taste

• pepper, to ta ste

• olive oil

•limejuice

Avocado Cream:

• 1 avocado, mashed

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1 lime, juice and zest only

• salt, to taste

• pepper, to ta ste

•8-12 slider buns, halved

•2-3 cobs sweet corn, cooked and sliced into shards

•8-12 small bamboo skewers

To make patties: In bowl, combine beef, garlic, onion, egg, kidney beans, tomato paste, oregano, paprika, cumin, coriander, Parmesan cheese, salt, to taste, and pepper, to taste. Shape into 8-12 small patties. Cover and refrigerate 15 minutes.

Heat grill or frying pan to medium heat.

Brush patties with oil on both sides. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side, turning once to brown both sides evenly, until cooked through.

To make Jalapeño Salsa: In bowl, combine cucumber, cilantro, onion and jalapeños; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Drizzle with olive oil and lime juice.

To make Avocado Cream: In bowl, combine avocado, sour cream, lime juice and lime zest; season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Spread Avocado Cream on bottom buns and place patties on top. Top patties with Jalapeño Salsa, corn and top buns. Press down gently and poke in skewers to secure sliders.