re: Hamburger Recipes

Want to try something different? I tried this one that's pretty good.

1 lb ground sirloin
1 lb finely chopped crawfish tails
Finely chopped green onions
Salt
Pepper
Tony's or other seasoning

Make it and cook it like any other burger. Try adding a bit of crab boil for some extra kick if you like.

I'm curious to try adding sausage as someone else recommended.

1. unless you go to a butcher don't buy the prepackaged ground meat. It's a breeding ground for bacteria, and not very flavorful. Cube up some sirloin, chuck, ribeye, etc. or whatever and grind it yourself. If you don't have a grinder use a food processor, it works just fine. The freshly ground meat makes a HUGE difference, and it's much safer as well.

2. if you used good meat just use a liberal amount of kosher salt and cracked pepper.

3. imo, a griddle or cast iron skillet makes the best burger. Get it hot, add some canola or peanut oil (higher smoke point than olive oil), and cook that puppy until you get a nice crust on both sides. You can go medium rare with no worries if you grind your own quality meat at home. With the store bought ground meat you have to cook it a bit more to be safe, and it's less juicy.

If you want to experiment with flavors i actually think that a blackened burger is outstanding. Brush with melted butter, coat with blackening seasoning and cook it on high heat in a black skillet....outdoors b/c of the smoke.

Buns - softer is better, and crucial
Fresh summer tomatoes are critical as well.

salt and pepper both sides with some onions browning in the cast iron skillet beside the patties. Cooking some right now.

I get bored with simple hamburgers, too. Try putting in french friend onions instead of chopped onions into the meat mix (if you put choppen onions in your hamburger meat). I think it tastes better and is different.

Also, I have sliced mushrooms, garlic and green onions and mixed them in the meat. If you season the meat well and grill them, the mushrooms absorb the flavor. I think this is great and have had many compliments on it. That is - if you like mushrooms.

You could also experiment with different sort of bread crumbs, like Japanese panko or even try using a 'shrimp fry' with a cornmeal base instead of bread crumbs. I haven't tried this, but it might work. The texture would probably be a lot different.

Okay, I tried the grill method last night. The burgers were VERY good. I did notice however, that the patties were a bit more fragile without the egg and bread crumbs. Any ideas?

Every time I look at a Cabela's ad, I say I am going to buy my own meat grinder. You just sealed it for me. I'm going this weekend.

I love the blue cheese stuffed in the middle..simply delicious

quote:

---

I did notice however, that the patties were a bit more fragile without the egg and bread crumbs. Any ideas?

---

can't molest them. Put on the grill, flip once and the only other time you touch them is when you serve them. Don’t play with the grill meat…you will go blind.

quote:

---

Martini , just out of curiosity...why kosher salt? and why a dry pan. Still in learning mode here.

---

I prefer the flavor of kosher salt which is more salty than regular table salt and less salty than most sea salts. I try any just like the kosher. Bigger flake. The salt in the bottom of the pan will create the crust and letting it cook long enough when the crust is created, it will automatically release from the bottom.

I salt both sides and the skillet as well. Just adds a good flavor in my opinion but I grew up eating them like this. Most really old diners used to use this method from what I recall and have been told.

The knuckle indention does indeed keep it from shrinking.

Glad some people on here like it. It's to me just what a classic burger should taste like. I do them on my grill as well but prefer the cast iron skillet. I do a steak the same way. Hell I even put the cast iron skillet on my grill.

Thanks for the tips. I love my cast iron skillets as well. Although they work so much better on gas stoves than they do on electric. I HATE my electric stove/oven !