Nothing says Friday like a great big, sexy, juicy burger – amirite? This, my friends, is my ultimate burger. It is my masterpiece. It sadly means that I am spoiled for all other burgers.
It’s pretty much my idea of heaven.
It’s a burger with the works! Special sauce, crispy bacon, swiss cheese (gotta be), the best & simplest burger patty, ketchup, lettuce, tomato and onion and a pickle.
Nothing more and nothing less than exactly what I want that burger-beast to be! If you want to take your burger to barbecue town, or throw on double meat and cheese, please be my guest! But now, I’m gonna show you the original and the best.
It all starts with the bun – soft and white please. There’s no room for sourdough here. I might stretch to a brioche bun, but in my heart of hearts, I know it ought to be just white and soft.
Then there’s that special sauce – my own secret/not so secret recipe. It’s simple and it’s next level – mayo, mustard, worcestershire sauce (just a drop) and….wait for it…pickled green chillies. Finely sliced. Amazing.
The patty comes next – I use top-quality organic beef mince and I do nothing to it! Just shape into patties as quickly as you can (don’t squish or squelch them around, it makes them tough) and then season oh-so-generously with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper.
Cook them in a screaming hot cast-iron pan or griddle pan. Mine get about 2 minutes a side, for a just-pink centre, and a rich, savoury crust. On goes a criss-cross of swiss cheese, and two rashers of crisp bacon plus a drizzle of ketchup. The bacon must be smoked! Non-negotiable.
I’m flexible on salad options, but I like the classic sliced onion, tomato and lettuce. I never keep my tomatoes in the fridge, and I encourage you not to either. Ditto the onion, but then, who keeps onion in the fridge? That would be weird.
I gotta have pickles, but I get that some people hate them, so you do you on that one. And once your burger is assembled take a moment to look upon the glory of what you have created.
And then grab a stack of napkins and a cold drink and get. stuck. in.
xx Sarah.
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tsp American/yellow mustard
- 3-4 small green pickled chillies, finely chopped
- Few drops of worcestershire sauce
- 300g minced beef (organic, if you can)
- sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper
- 4 rashers smoked bacon
- 4 slices swiss cheese
- 2 soft white buns
- ketchup, sliced tomatoes, sliced onion, lettuce and pickles, as desired
- First, make the special sauce by stirring together the mayo, mustard, chillies and worcestershire sauce. Taste and add more of any ingredient if you think it needs it.
- Divide the beef mince into two, and shape each half into a patty that's just under an inch thick, and slightly larger than your burger buns (it will shrink when it cooks). Try not to work the beef too much, just enough to get it the right shape. Season very generously on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat a cast iron pan or griddle until very hot (turn on the exhaust fan if you have one) and then cook the patties for about 2 minutes a side for medium-well (or however you like them).
- Cook the bacon in the same pan (if there's room) until crisp. If there's no room, use a second pan or do it under the grill.
- When the patties are done, lay over the cheese, criss-crossing the slices on each patty.
- To assemble your burger, spread the bottom buns generously with special sauce, add the cheese-covered patties, then distribute the bacon, ketchup, salad and pickles as desired.
- Skewer with a pickle and a toothpick, if desired, and then EAAAAT IT!
Hahaaa oh no… I keep onions in the fridge, I dont really know why. But it doesn’t seem to be a problem lol. I agree about the tomato though, cold kills the flavour.
Beautiful Sarah, all I can think if is burgers now :)
That’s hilarious! I guess it’s not really that weird, I’ve just never seen it done! Now I think about it, why not? But I’m glad we’re on the same page about the tommies!
I just ate a mountain of quesadillas for dinner and yet I still want to inhale at least five of these burgers. BECAUSE THAT SAUCE.
HAHAH, trade you for some quesadillas?
Thank goodness no beetroot
Never – not on my watch.
Pickles are always a must for me too! These burgers look awesome. You are right about a way to end a week.
No beets on my burgers too! Damn for that sauce, i have give it a go next time Sarah.
Sexy for sure. Like I wanna eat 5 of these burgers. I’m feelin that special sauce too!!
maybe it’s an American thing, but we keep our onions in the fridge, along with everything else! Everyone I know keeps onions in the fridge in the ‘crisper’ drawer with the other veggies.
I love a simple, perfect burger! These look great and I am loving that sauce!
Oh lordy lord that looks good. I can’t wait to try that sauce!
mayo, mustard, worchester, chillis. I have now committed this to memory. oh special sauce <3
Hmmm. . .I’ve never thought to use burger and sexy in the same sentence; however, i am sure my hubby has. Regardless looks good and i am pretty sure I would need a heaping pile of napkins while I eat this juicy delight.