Give yourself a burger treat!

Burger is globally enjoyed by the young and old. It is usually made with two basic ingredients; bread and beef but you can add other ingredients like lettuce, chicken and so on to it. Burger can give you the culinary delight you are craving for ,writes TAYO GESINDE.

A burger  or hamburger is a sandwich that consists of one or more cooked patties of ground meat, usually beef (or chicken,if you so desire) that is  placed inside a sliced bread roll or bun. It can be pan fried, barbecued, or flame broiled. Though an intercontinental dish that originated from Europe, it is now being eaten in all the continents. It is also one delicacy that is loved by many Nigerians who normally throng to eateries and restaurants to buy it. Want to try it at home? Below are the recipes and the preparation of Burger.

Ingredients

• 750g beef mince (like topside)
• 70g (1 cup) breadcrumbs, made from day-old bread
• 1 large brown onion, grated
• 1 egg, lightly whisked
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh continental parsley
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce (optional), or to taste
• Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 150g cheddar cheese, thinly sliced, to serve
• 6 hamburger buns, halved
• 1/3 cup American mustard (optional)
• 6 lettuce leaves, to serve
• 3 medium (about 450g) ripe tomatoes, sliced, to serve
• Tomato sauce, to serve

Select all ingredients

Method

• Step 1

The first step is to prepare all your ingredients before you begin. It is important to  note that you must use mince from a cut of meat that has a little fat. This will  ensure that you get a tender burger by preventing the patties from drying out during cooking.  Though breadcrumbs were not usually included in the traditional burger patty mixture,  their addition to this recipe helps to give the cooked patties a lighter, more tender texture. The egg acts as a binding ingredient so that the patties can be easily shaped. It also helps them hold together when cooked.

• Step 2

 Next, put your minced beef, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce in  a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then mix with your hands until evenly combined.

• Step 3

When you are satisfed with the mixture, divide it into 6 equal portions. You can use your hand to shape each portion into a patty that is about: 10cm in diameter and 1.5cm thick.

• Step 4

Place the patties on a tray lined with- greaseproof paper then, cover  it with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the patties to  hold together when cooked. Also,  it  allows the flavours in the patties to blend and develop.

• Step 5

Next, heat half the olive oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat and cook half the patties for about 4 minutes on each side or until browned and cooked through.       Make sure you  cook mince right through because it has a larger ratio of surface area to volume than whole pieces of meat, and is therefore at greater risk of contamination by bacteria in the air. Transfer the patties to a plate, set aside and keep warm. Repeat with the remaining oil and patties.

• Step 6

Preheat grill on high. Place the hamburger buns, cut-side up, under the preheated grill and toast for 1 minute or until golden. Leave the grill on then. place the patties on a baking tray lined with foil. Top up the  patties with cheese and place under the grill for 1 minute or until the cheese is just melted.  Now that your burger is ready serve it in a plate then go ahead and have a bite. Yummy, isn’t it?  Go ahead and enjoy every bite of yourt burger!