Cast Iron

Sweet & Savory Burger With Fig Jam, Goat Cheese & Arugula

by:
September  6, 2015
4.4
8 Ratings
Sweet & Savory Burger With Fig Jam, Goat Cheese & Arugula
Photo by James Ransom
  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 15 minutes
  • Makes 2 burgers
Author Notes

Spicy beef, tangy goat cheese, sweet fig jam, and earthy arugula all combined in this flavorful burger. This dish is perfect for grilling by the pool, or, if you're like me and don't have a yard (or a grill for that matter), it can be easily accomplished on the stovetop with a cast iron skillet. —Sarah Goerzen | The City Skillet

Test Kitchen Notes

I am completely biased when it comes to this burger, because I a. I love figs and b. I like unusual burger toppings (peanut butter is among my favorites). This did not disappoint, and was in fact a really great burger. I don't think you can go wrong with the flavor combinations. The burger had a lot of flavor, but was a little heavy on the chili flakes (which I love and only used 1/2 teaspoon), as they fought some of the other flavors. I would definitely make this again and again. I liked how Sarah provided helpful tips in her instructions, and thought the entire recipe was well written. My burgers did take a little longer to cook because they were thick, but Sarah warned me of this. —figgypudding

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 burger buns
  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons fig jam (I like Trader Joe's)
  • 2 ounces goat cheese
  • 1 handful arugula
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Place buns on a baking sheet, and toast in oven for about 10 minutes.
  2. In a small bowl, drizzle olive oil over arugula, and season with salt and pepper. Give it a toss.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef with salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix with your hands. (NOTE: Any time you handle raw meat, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching anything else.) Form beef into two patties.
  4. Heat your cast iron skillet over medium heat. Melt butter or oil in skillet, and carefully place patties in pan. Always lay meat away from you to avoid splattering hot oil on yourself. Let patties cook for about 2 to 3 minutes before flipping (cooking time will depend on how thick your patties are). Once flipped, place goat cheese on each patty to warm and soften cheese. Cook second side for 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Assemble! Spread fig jam on the bottom bun. Place patty on top of fig jam. Top patty with arugula. Top arugula with top bun.
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See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Dariusz
    Dariusz
  • Jenn
    Jenn
  • Sarah Goerzen | The City Skillet
    Sarah Goerzen | The City Skillet
  • foodie101!
    foodie101!

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6 Reviews

Dariusz
Dariusz October 18, 2023
Nice burgers. Maybe a bit too simple – I'd add fresh sliced tomatoes and season the patties with some oregano, thyme and rosemary. To my surprise, the burgers weren't sweet and the goat cheese wasn't overwhelming. Overall, a nice dish.
 
foodie101!
foodie101! March 28, 2023
No joke, I cried when I ate this. THE BEST burger! It was so delicious and simple. But elegant if that makes any sense.
 
KayleGraham
KayleGraham March 29, 2022
This is definitely my new favorite burger— and I don’t say that lightly! I almost always prefer a burger with ketchup and mustard and all the veg, but this one honestly didn’t need any other toppings! It’s also insanely easy to make, and super addicting!! I definitely recommend trying this recipe.
 
Jenn
Jenn June 6, 2021
I am not a burger fan and when my husband wanted to make this....I sighed. However, it was AMAZING! I loved the pepperiness of the arugula with tart goat cheese, sweet fig jam and then the delicious, not overly fussy hamburger. We used wagyu ground beef instead, but this is DEFINITELY going on our "make again" list!
 
Erin H.
Erin H. September 7, 2016
I just made this for myself - wanted to spice up my burger a bit. Just a few alterations - I used raspberry jam instead of fig and used only garlic powder, not garlic and onion. But it was absolutely delicious!
 
Sarah G.
Sarah G. September 8, 2016
Hi Erin! I'm glad you liked the burger, and great idea to use raspberry jam if you can't find fig. Both are great flavors.