Best Burgers 2016

This time of the year we want simple easy to prepare and tasty food…  Burgers are such a versatile food and can be unbelievably tasty- economical and are great crowd pleasers.

I’ve been experimenting over the past few weeks with lamb, pork and turkey mince and some very tasty bean burgers.

Also I reduced the size of the burger to about 3 bite sizes – really initially for ease of cooking and as an added bonus you can taste a few of these tasty morsels..

Some tips

Buy good quality meat

Season with care 

Fry off a tiny piece and taste and re season if need be

Silicon Gloves are a handy tool for mixing and shaping burgers 

Heat the oven tray 

Pitta breads, Wraps, Whole meal buns, Sourdough bread

Avocado, Salsa, Pickles, Pepper Sauce, Garlic Mayo, 

Seasonings, fresh herbs, sea salts, sweet chilli, kaffir lime leaves, 

Method is same with all burgers

Combine all of the ingredients with seasoning in a large bowl 

Seasonings, fresh herbs, sea salt, cracked black pepper, Dijon mustard, cooked onions, carmelised onions,  raw eggs, seasoned breadcrumbs, 

Asiany Seasonings.. Sweet chilli, kaffir lime leaves, sriracha sauce, sesame oil..

and then shape  into your desired size – place on a baking tray and pop in the fridge for a couple of hours or if you're in a hurry the freezer for 30 min.  (this helps the burgers keep their shape and not fall apart while cooking) 

Remove from the freezer to a heated bbq or preheated pan with a little oil cook on each side for 1 minute and then transfer to the oven @200 and cook for 10 to 15 mins

Turning once – check to see they are cooked through.

Build your perfect burger

Choose the base and then build with sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, cooked egg, cheeses, cheeses, 

Simple ideas...  

Lamb mince  – fresh thyme – 1 egg – salt & pepper

Lamb Mince – natural yoghurt – fresh mint – garlic – salt & pepper 

Turkey mince – sweet chilli sauce 2 tablespoons – Juice of 1 lime  - Kaffir lime leaf 

Asiany Beef – Sesame oil, Sriracha sauce, pepper

Pork Mince – Grated Apple – mixture of fresh herbs – half a small glass of apple juice

Tasty Bean Burgers w lime yoghurt & salsa 

400g can of kidney, borlotti, chick peas, butter beans

1 cup of mashed cooked veggies, carrots, sweet potato 

1 clove of garlic chopped finely

Pinch ground cumin, coriander, paprika

4 tbls of sesame seeds for coating

1 cup of fresh salsa

1 cup of natural yoghurt

Juice of 2  limes

Coriander bunch chopped

Crush the beans with a potato masher add the veggie mix and combine really well with the garlic and spices.

Divide the mixture into 6, shape into burgers, coat in sesame seeds, and chill in the fridge for 3 hours or freezer for 40 mins.  To cook place on a non stick baking tray and grill for 5 mins each side until golden and crisp. 

Can be frozen uncooked and then cooked from frozen just allow 45 mins to bake from frozen ..

Make the lime yoghurt by combining the yoghurt with the lime and chilli and a few grinds of black pepper.

Serve on wholemeal buns w avocado, salsa and lime yoghurt...

Delicious with sweet potato wedges for a complete meal!

East Coast Best Burgers….

Twist of Thai Chicken Burgers

Serves 4

500g Chicken/ Turkey Mince

1 tbls of red curry paste

Dash of Thai Fish Sauce

1 egg

2 tbls of warm water

1. Mix the curry paste with the warm water

2. Whisk up the egg 

3. Pop the mince into a bowl and combine the paste, egg & Thai Fish sauce until well mixed.

4. Shape mixture into burgers

5. Pop in the fridge for a couple of hours  or overnight 

6.  Cook on a hot bbq for 5/6 mins each side check to ensure they are cooked through.

Twist of Italian Beef Burgers

Serves 4

500g Beef Mince

1 egg

1 handful of sunblushed tomatoes chopped

1 red onion carmelized

1 handful of fresh basil leaves shredded 

Salt & Fresh Ground black pepper

1. Pop the mince into a bowl and combine all of the ingredients.

2. Shape mixture into burgers

3. Pop in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight

4.  Cook on a hot bbq for 5/6 mins each side check to ensure they are cooked through.

Greek Lamb Burgers

Serves 4

500g Lamb mince

Feta Cheese 8 small cubes

1 handful of fresh oregano

1 grilled red pepper chopped into small pieces

1. Pop the mince into a bowl and combine all of the ingredients.

2. Shape mixture into burgers

3. Pop in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight

4.  Cook on a hot bbq for 5/6 mins each side check to ensure they are cooked through.

Corn on the cob

Is another great food on the bbq,  simply brush a little of the sweet chilli marinade over the corn and pop on the bbq for 40 min. Test to see if they are tender enough.

Or

Brush with a little olive oil and when cooked serve little butter and seasalt!

Asparagus.... 

Snip the woody bits at the end, brush with olive oil, pop on the BBQ for a couple of mins each side.  

Serve with shaved parmesan cheese and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.... 

Roast Peppers  & Courgettes

3 mixed coloured peppers cut in half deseeded and quartered.  2 Courgettes - Slice the courgettes down the centre and again into quarters.

Drizzle with olive oil and pop on the bbq until charred and tender which takes about 15 mins turning frequently to ensure you don’t char them completely.

When cooked chop again into large chunks and combine with a little olive oil and seasalt, if you have some fresh basil the flavour also works wonderfully...