Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 3/4 cup distilled white vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons superfine sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 habanero chile, seeds removed
  • 1 large red onion, peeled, halved, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 small Spanish onion, coarsely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 1 cup pureed plum tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup pureed chipotle in adobo
  • 3 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons ancho chile powder
  • 1 tablespoon New Mexico chile powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground chile de arbol
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
  • 1/4 cup crushed blue corn tortilla chips
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mango
  • 1/4 cup golden raisins
  • 1 ounce semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck (80/20 percent), or ground turkey (90/10 percent)
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup grated Manchego
  • 4 hamburger buns, split and toasted, if desired
  • 1 ripe Hass avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced

Method

  • For the pickled habanero onions: Combine 1/2 cup water, the lime juice, vinegar, sugar, salt and habanero chile in a medium saucepan.
  • Boil the vinegar mixture until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat and cool for 5 minutes.
  • Put the onion slices in a small bowl.
  • Pour the warm vinegar mixture over the onions and toss to coat.
  • Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 48 hours, stirring the mixture a few times.
  • Meanwhile, for the mole: Heat the oil in a saucepan until it begins to shimmer.
  • Add the onions and cook until soft, about 4 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and cook, about 30 seconds.
  • Stir in the chicken stock, pureed tomatoes, chipotle, molasses, honey, maple syrup, ancho chile powder, New Mexico chile powder, cinnamon, allspice, chile de arbol and ground cloves.
  • Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Bring the mole to a simmer and cook, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the almonds, chips, mangoes and raisins.
  • Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mangoes are soft and the mixture is reduced by half, about 30 minutes.
  • Carefully transfer the mixture to a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Return the mixture to the saucepan over high heat.
  • Add the chocolate and cook until reduced to a sauce consistency, about 10 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • For the burgers: Preheat the grill to high for direct heat.
  • Divide the ground meat into 4 equal portions, 6 ounces each.
  • Form each portion into a 3/4-inch burger.
  • Make a deep impression in the center of each burger, using your thumb.
  • Brush the burgers on both sides with the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Grill the burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on both sides and cooked to medium doneness, about 8 minutes.
  • About a minute before removing the burgers from the gill, top with the Manchego and cover the grill.
  • Transfer the burgers to the buns and top with a large dollop of the mole sauce, a few slices of avocado and some of the pickled habanero onions.