March 10, 2013

Juicy, Thin, Stove-Top Burgers




I have been to a Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant once, last summer, and I've remembered that tasty burger. I loved that I got to choose exactly what I wanted on it-- tomato slices, lettuce, raw onion, cheese, ketchup and mustard. And I liked getting to watch them put it together efficiently but with care (no burgers half off the buns, tomato slices were prettily laid out, slightly overlapping), in plain sight according to my order. It felt like slightly classy fast food, if that's possible. I also liked that, like most fast-food burgers I guess, it was thin (you could choose a double decker or something, but I did not). I like them thin because a fat burger can be so filling, and I like to reserve some height for all those good accompaniments.

When I used to make burgers, I never used to have a good gauge of how large or how thick to make a burger and they often weren't quite right, like this time which I can't live down:



(To be fair, that was also my first attempt at a homemade bun, so shouldn't I get some points for that at least??)










Then I read this formula for making thin, fast-food-style burgers at home. I like finally having a clear recipe for how long to cook burgers. You cook the first side, flip, then add cheese and cook the second side-- for less time, at slightly less heat. It makes sense. The cheese is perfectly melted and one with the meat, and it yields a perfectly cooked, juicy burger every time. We don't eat burgers much, but when we do, I'm sold on them made like this now. I like the beef we get and with these focaccia buns I've been finding (haven't managed to keep up the bun-making habit, I'm afraid), it's reminiscent of the McDonald's cheeseburger of my childhood, but better in every way. We like to serve burgers with french-fry-like roasted potatoes or other roasted veggies and/or salad. Makes four burgers.





Stuffing his little face with his half a burger.
Cheeseburgers
adapted from Martha Stewart Living, August 2012

Burgers:
1 1/4 lb. ground beef
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
4 slices cheese (cheddar for us)

Extras:
4 buns/rolls
diced white onion
thinly sliced dill pickles
shredded lettuce
tomato slices
mustard, ketchup

Divide beef into four mounds and evenly place on a piece of plastic wrap. Put another piece of plastic on top. With a rolling pin, roll into 5 1/2" patties, about 1/3" thick. Season both sides of patties with salt and pepper. (Do ahead and place stacked between squares of wax paper in the fridge.)

Heat a griddle or two skillets over medium high. Cook patties, pressing with a spatula, 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, flip, and top with cheese. Cook 2 minutes.

Toast cut sides of rolls on griddle until edges just start to brown, about 1 minute.

Place burgers in rolls and serve with extras on the side for everyone to top as they like.

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