Who doesn’t enjoy a delicious burger? You probably shouldn’t be eating these every day, but once in a while doesn’t hurt, right?
What makes a great burger
Start with ground beef that has some fat in it: 80% lean is ideal. Leaner beef cooks up dry. Mixing in fried onion and garlic adds flavor and keeps the patties moist, and a dimple in the middle stops them from puffing up on the grill.
Grill over high heat and flip only once. Add the cheese for the last minute so it melts over the edges, and check the inside with a thermometer: 160 °F is safe for ground beef.
Fries worth the extra step
Restaurant fries are fried twice. The first round at a lower temperature cooks the potatoes through. The second, hotter round makes them golden and crisp. Rinse and dry the potatoes well before frying: wet potatoes make the oil spit and the fries soggy.
Build your burger
- Toast the buns on the grill so they don’t go soggy.
- Lettuce goes under the patty, where it protects the bottom bun.
- Add pickles, grilled onions or a fried egg if you’re feeling hungry.
Bacon Cheeseburger with Fries
Equipment
- Charcoal Grill
- Patty Maker (optional)
- Deep Fryer
Ingredients
Burgers
- 1 ½ lb ground beef 80% lean
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 8 slices bacon
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
Fries
- 2 russet potatoes large, about 1 1/2 lb (680 g)
- vegetable oil for frying
- ½ tsp flaky sea salt
To serve
- 4 bread rolls brioche or sesame
- 4 leaves lettuce
- 1 tomato sliced
- ketchup and mustard to serve
Instructions
Prepare
- Cut the potatoes into 1/4-inch sticks. Rinse them in cold water and pat them completely dry with a kitchen towel.2 russet potatoes
- Heat the oil in the deep fryer to
vegetable oil - Fry the onion in a little oil until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and fry for another 30 seconds, then let it cool.1 onion, 1 clove garlic
- Mix the onion and garlic with the ground beef, salt and pepper. Shape into 4 patties, slightly wider than the buns, and press a shallow dimple into the middle of each.1 1/2 lb ground beef, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper
Grill
- Grill the bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 6 minutes.8 slices bacon
- Grill the patties over high heat for 4 minutes per side, until they reach
4 slices cheddar cheese
- Meanwhile, heat the oil to
- Toast the rolls on the grill. Build the burgers with the lettuce, tomato, patties and bacon, and serve with the fries, ketchup and mustard.4 bread rolls, 4 leaves lettuce, 1 tomato, ketchup and mustard
