Dinner Plan B: Burgers Galore
- sixstrings17
- Jun 29, 2016
- 2 min read
When in doubt about what to have for dinner, plan B is always a good old fashioned hamburger. That most simple concoction of bread and beef that is the the national symbol of the U.S. and which has spread globally over the last 60 years. In many places around the world, having a burger with all the trimmings is a status meal in itself and symbolizes acceptance of things American. In Canada, it's not quite that way. Burgers are mainly relegated to a quick cheap eat popularized by fast food joints. There are always more expensive "gourmet" burgers, made by hand, thick juicy meat, and high quality trimmings, however, a good burger is very simple to make at home. The best tasting burgers are grilled over a fire, not too well-done and remaining very juicy. Many variants of the burger exist around the world made not only with beef, but with pork, lamb, or using rice as the "bread" buns as found in the Far East. In the end, a good old home-made beef burger can't be beat, when one has no idea what else to cook for dinner.
Ingredients:
About 1.5 pounds ground beef (85% lean)
3 or four burger buns, depending on how big the patties are
1 teaspoon coarse salt (or less, you can always add more while eating)
Half teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
Sliced cheese of your preference (cheddar, mozza, etc)
2 TSP Worcestershire sauce
Sliced: tomatoes, red onions, pickles, lettuce or other green leafy vegetable, pepper rings (if available)
Sauce: Mayo, HP steak sauce (ketchup, mustard, whatever you like...)
To Do:
1) Mix all the ingredients until well-mixed but do not squeeze too hard.
2) Separate into four round balls, and shaped in the palm of your hand into a patty around 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Make 'em thicker into 3 patties if you prefer. Make 'em about as wide or a bit wider than the buns.
3) Indent the middle of the patty to create a depression.
To cook:
1) Start your grill until it's very hot (400-450f). You can also fry them 'em up if you don't have a grill.
2) Place the patties when the grill is hot and leave for about 4 to 5 minutes per side, until grill marks form. If flare ups, lower the heat or move the patties to the part of the grill with less intense heat. Add another minute per side to cook the meat well-done if you prefer.
3) A burger is ready to eat when the juice that oozes out runs clear. Don't overcook the patties. Medium to well-done is usually good and juicy.
5) Once the juice runs clear, you'll see it ooze out the middle of the depsression, add the slice of cheese on top and lower the heat to let it melt. During this time, place the sliced buns on the lower heat side of the grill to toast them. Remove the buns when toasted warm, about a minute.
6) Remove the patties and place on a bun. Let the patty rest on the bun for about three minutes to distribute the juice before serving.
7) Add your trimmings, sauces, serve with a fresh salad or fries!
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