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Lucy Lean

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in All-Star Chef Classic· Girl and Grill· Holidays· July 4th· Made in America· Meat· RECIPES· sandwiches and burgers

How to Make the Best Burger EVER!

Copyright2015LucyLean-9104Who doesn’t love a great burger? A national dish of sorts in America and one of America’s biggest cultural exports to the rest of the world. Brought to the US by German immigrants in the 1800s – a minced beefsteak patty originating in Hamburg – this soon became THE all American sandwich. And here’s the best part – it’s super easy to make a delicious juicy hamburger at home. Grilling the perfect burger is not difficult – so fire up the grill and let’s get started. I’m loving my DCS grill – it’s easy to use and the results are beyond delicious. I’m super excited to see what the chefs at All-Star Chef Classic will grill on their DCS grills on March 14th – have you bought tickets yet? The Kitchen Kids event is already sold out and Grill and Chill will sell out as well – so make sure you grab a ticket before they all go. It’s going to be a magical night – not sure if any of the chefs are grilling a burger but I do know Nancy Silverton has requested to be at the grill – along with 9 other chefs from around the world. And then there are the 10 chefs who are chilling – funny how most of the chefs asked to chill when I had expected them to want to grill.

I have gathered all the tips from lots of great chefs and incorporated them into this ultimate burger recipe – from Nancy Silverton’s burger blend that I featured in Edible Los Angeles to Michael Schlow’s burger tips for Made in America – this really is the ultimate quarter-pounder burger – and easy to achieve great results every time.

Perfect Burger Recipe

2 white onions, finely cut
4 tablespoons olive oil
3 pounds Organic Grassfed ground beef (80-85% lean)
salt and pepper
red chilli flakes
Canola oil for brushing grill
12 mini Rockenwagner brioche hamburger buns
sliced tomato
lettuce
pickles
bacon
avocado
ketchup
mustard
mayonnaise

Makes approx 13 burgers

Copyright2015LucyLean-9077Nancy suggests using her special blend of beef that can be bought at Huntington Meats at the Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax. In the Nancy Silverton Burger Blend there is about 16 – 18% fat.  I like to use ground organic grass-fed beef that is around 80-85% lean which is in line with Nancy’s preferred blend.  I also like to add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to the meat before you make them into patty’s – this is a tip I learned from Schlow for making the juiciest of burgers.

Copyright2015LucyLean-9082I cook the onions with some special spices/salt that I got at the market in Gordes in Provence – it’s meant to be used for cooking steaks – but I like the spice and saltiness that it adds to the burger. I don’t like raw onions and this helps caramelize the onions within the patty. You can add fleur de sel, a pinch of red pepper flakes and lots of ground black pepper to the onions as they cook to get a similar taste infused into the onions. Cook the onions in a large non-stick frying pan over medium to high heat with some olive oil until translucent and soft. Let the cooked onions cool slightly then add to the meat in a large bowl. Do not overwork the meat but mix in the onions until incorporated.

Copyright2015LucyLean-9084Using an electric scale measure out 4oz of the meat and then pack the portion of meat into a 2 3/4 inch round cookie cutter. This gives you about 12 quarter pounders – actually you’ll probably end up with a baker’s dozen because you added the onions.

Copyright2015LucyLean-9085Transfer to parchment paper and press out of the cutter and then gentle flatten the patty to about an inch in height. Nancy Silverton suggests making a dimple in the center of each burger with your thumb, so the burgers’ shape stays uniform as they cook and the tops don’t dome. Refrigerate the patties until you are ready to grill.
Copyright2015LucyLean-9087Heat the grill to high. Remove the patties from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature whilst the grill is heating up, about 10 minutes. Brush the hot grill with paper towels soaked in Canola oil to create a nonstick grilling surface. Turn the grill down to medium-high heat and place the patties onto the grill.
Lucy Lean at the grill with the burgersCook for 4 minutes for rare and 6 minutes for medium and then flip and repeat on the other side.
Copyright2015LucyLean-9092The burgers should turn easily without sticking. Schlow suggests rotating the burgers through 90 degrees to “grill mark” them after a couple of minutes – I tend to leave out this stage.
Copyright2015LucyLean-9097Once you have flipped the burgers and they are almost cooked place a couple of slices of cheese on top of each and let it melt.
Copyright2015LucyLean-9099-2On the sides of the grill next to the burgers place the hamburger buns cut side down and toast for 30 seconds, transfer to the upper rack to keep warm.
Copyright2015LucyLean-9100Once the burgers are cooked and the buns are toasted turn off the grill and shut the lid for 3 minutes – this will melt the cheese into the burgers and let them rest before serving.
best burgersServe the burgers immediately, semi-assembled, so that everyone can add their own choice of fillings – sliced tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise, pickles, ketchup, mustard and relish – and even bacon and avocado. Everyone likes a side of fries and for convenience I like to cook up some oven fries to serve along side.

ultimate burger recipe

 

Filed Under: All-Star Chef Classic, Girl and Grill, Holidays, July 4th, Made in America, Meat, RECIPES, sandwiches and burgers Tagged With: All-Star Chef Classic, delicious juicy hamburger recipe, girl and grill, Grill and Chill, Grilling, grilling the perfect burger, how to make the perfect burger, Huntington Meats, Kitchen Kids, Made in America, Michael Schlow, Nancy Silverton, Original Farmers Market, perfect burgers, quarter pounder burgers, quarter pounder with cheese, Rockenwagner Brioche Hamburger Buns, the best burger, ultimate burger

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Comments

  1. Dean says

    December 3, 2015 at 5:24 pm

    Wonderful tips and recipe. Can’t wait to try these out and see if they live up to the claim. I’m sure they will be great!

    Reply

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I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watc I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers, for the sleepers in that quiet earth.  #WutheringHeights #EmilyBronte the in between - How it started How it ended - bedroom monochromatic light at 7am this morning to 7pm tonight and cocktail time with Tink gin and @david_austin_roses post parents evening and then in the middle I went on a walk with @chloescotland - actually it was an adventure to find the prettiest 13th century church with a moat and a graveyard filled with snowdrops and the tiniest grave - a child? And headstones that were leaning over - I thought tipsy Chloe thought giving up and I was reminded of the Brontë passage about #unquietslumbers #ghostsinmygarden swop harebells for snowdrops - the peace and quiet of a tiny graveyard with a moat and lopsided headstones and peace and quiet - a moment of calm and hope as the #inauguration looms large and as we keep to the rules of lockdown #stayhome #staysafe
Anxiety levels have been high these last few weeks Anxiety levels have been high these last few weeks and just when you think it can’t get any worse it does - Covid levels rising and hospitals dealing with record numbers of very unwell patients, a third lockdown and schools going online and exams cancelled, then there was the runoff in Georgia 💙 overshadowed by the insurrection in D.C. which led to the swift impeachment (again), there’s the excitement of Joe Biden’s inauguration that is being sucked away by the pandemic, the rise of white supremacy with troops guarding the Capitol and ever present fear.  But through it all we have to have hope - for the vaccine, for the teachers helping our kids learn online, for the nurses and doctors working against the odds, for M&S and Ocado deliveries,for a new administration, for arrests of violent rioters, for congress doing its job and for decency to be about to be sworn in.  It’s a lot and we all struggle daily to keep our heads above water.  On a personal level I find painting helps, as do walks in nature and family suppers, I’m wearing pretty dresses, silk underwear and wrapping myself in soft cashmere and yes I’m consuming more champagne than I usually do - if not now then when?  #Lockdown #Stayhome #staysafe #EnglishCountryHouse #EnglishCountryside
#snowdrops went for a walk to search for snowdrops #snowdrops went for a walk to search for snowdrops today - last year the lawn was carpeted in white, this year nothing.  Maybe they are late? Painted a small bunch #oilpaint #flowerpainting #snowdroppainting a sign of #spring I chickened out of painting the tiny glass jug that was a Christmas present - not sure I know how to paint that aqua colour - help!  #EnglishCountryhouse #EnglishCountryGarden #englishcountryside #Lockdown #Staysafe #stayhome
Frosted primroses #oilpainting sketch #sundaysketc Frosted primroses #oilpainting sketch #sundaysketch - we haven’t had snow but this magical frozen landscape is a beautiful alternative - painting again because that’s what got me through the last lockdown #painting #Englishcountryhouse #Englishcountryside #frost #ice #lockdown #staysafe #stayhome
#Lockdown weekend post a crazy time in the world o #Lockdown weekend post a crazy time in the world of #covid #brexit #onlineschool  #Georgia and then the #insurrection in D.C. I took it easy today - I tidied and cleaned #declutter #springcleaning I even cleaned out the #snack cupboard and found the plates I bought and had put in a safe place @jimbobart and made a couple of loaves of @richardbertinet #sourdough ready to wake up and bake tomorrow xxx #stayhome #staysafe #EnglishCountryHouse #Englishinteriors #Georgian #architecture
I love peaches 🍑 Thank you @staceyabrams for tr I love peaches 🍑 Thank you @staceyabrams for truly making America great again - Midnight snack - someone ate the whole pumpkin pie but was thoughtful enough to leave me a slice for breakfast... time to make more! Peach pie 🥧 for everyone x #Epiphany
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