Welsh Rarebit Burgers - cooking recipe

Ingredients

8 slices bacon
1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
1 shallot, finely chopped
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper
extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling (EVOO)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon mustard
1 teaspoon hot sauce
3/4 - 1 cup stout beer, such as Guinness
1 lb shredded cheddar cheese
8 slices pumpernickel bread
1 bunch watercress, chopped
4 slices beefsteak tomatoes
salt and vinegar potato chips, for serving

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350\u00b0. Bake the bacon on a broiler pan until crisp, 15 minutes. Preheat the broiler.
In a bowl, combine the beef, shallot and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Form into 4 patties.
In a nonstick skillet, heat a drizzle of EVOO over high heat. Add the patties and cook for 3 minutes on each side for medium-rare.
In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook until light brown, 3 minutes. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, mustard and hot sauce.
Whisk in the stout and cook until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Lower the heat and stir in the cheese until smooth.
Arrange the pumpernickel slices on a baking sheet and toast both sides.
Pour the sauce over the toasts; broil until the cheese is bubbly, about 2 minutes.
Place a patty on each of 4 slices, cover each with a handful of watercress, crisscross with 2 bacon slices and top with a slice of tomato; season with salt and pepper.
Cover with the remaining toasts, cheesy side down. Serve with a pile of potato chips.