Hot Brown Burgers

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 pint heavy cream
• 3 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 10 ounces freshly ground beef, formed into two 5-ounce patties
• 2 slices hearty white toast
• 4 slices bacon, crisply cooked
• 4 slices ripe tomato
• Dash paprika
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

1. Set your toaster oven or broiler on high. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour, then keep the whisk moving until the mixture turns a light blond-gold, about 1 minute. Drizzle in the heavy cream slowly, whisking the whole time. As soon as it reaches a simmer, pull the pan from the heat. Whisk in the grated cheese, and add salt and pepper to taste.
2. When you are ready to eat, season the burger patties generously with salt and pepper. Cook the burgers on a hot grill or in a skillet on the stovetop to the doneness you want, 125 degrees F for medium rare or 135 degrees F for medium. Take the patties off the heat and let them rest for 5 minutes.
3. Set 1 piece of toast in each gratin dish, or use 1 oval baking dish and line its base with the 2 slices. Put a burger patty on each piece of toast. Spoon half of the sauce onto each sandwich so the whole thing is covered. Broil until the sauce bubbles and browns in patches, 2 to 3 minutes. Lay 2 slices of bacon in an X over each one, then tuck 2 slices of tomato alongside the toast. Dust with paprika and parsley, then serve right away with a knife and fork.