Simple Can Be Best

Published by Carolin on Tagged Dinner, Side Dish, Vegetarian, Barbeque

Simple can be best. There is a time and a place, or maybe I should say a bowl and a pot for lots of ingredients. But sometimes it is best just to leave it up to a few ingredients. Now you are probably wondering what is she talking about? I am talking about the Almighty Hamburger. I see so many recipes that call for a whole lot of ingredients to make a simple burger. I don’t get it. Here is a piece of meat or maybe I should say some ground up meat that has so much already in the flavor category. Think about it. There is the meat part whether you use lean ground beef or you get your butcher to ground up some nice chuck, then you have the natural flavor enhancer from the beef, which is the fat. I know I know, now you’re saying fat isn’t good. Well first of all I am not really talking about what is healthy or not. I am talking about taste. Second of all I believe everything in moderation. So back to the fat. The fact of the matter is fat makes things taste good. That doesn’t mean it has to be high in fat, but there is definitely going to be fat in the burger or it isn’t going to be awfully dry, and we all know how no one likes a dry burger.

So we have the beef, which comes with the fat. How much more do you need? I have been told many of times I make a great burger. One person who always says this is my Mom. Now I know what you are thinking “She’s your Mom she has to like it”. Not true in my case, because my mom isn’t a huge burger fan. My Dad is and this is why she probably cooks them. So what do I add to my burgers? I hope you have your pen and paper ready because this is a big list (Joking) I add BBQ sauce and salt. I usually use Bulls eye BBQ sauce original and sometimes sea salt sometimes seasoning salt. Whichever is handy. That is it. Nothing else. You are probably wondering how much. This is the tricky part. I usually buy the big pack or family pack of lean ground beef. It is probably around the 4lb mark. So I would add about 1 cup of sauce and a good tsp of salt. Then I mix it up. Now what you can do at this point is cook a little bit like a couple of tablespoons and taste it. If it taste good to you then great if not add more bbq sauce over salt.

Now here is my next trick with burgers. I measure each one out to be 7oz. I know a little on the anal side but hey it works for me. Then I line a lid from the mayo jar or peanut butter jar. The big size. I line it with plastic wrap and I place the burger in the lid and shape each burger. This way they are all the same size and will be cooked at the same time.

I then cook them on the Barbeque on medium high heat for about 5 min per side. Just before they are done I brush on some BBQ sauce and flip. I do this to both sides. I also toast the buns on the Barbeque.

Now I only barbeque my burgers and yes in the winter to. By the way I live in an area where it gets very cold in the winter, but I just love burgers barbequed. I am sure you could cook them on the stovetop.

There you go simple but great tasting.

So are you saying “Hey Carolin that is not much of a recipe” It is more a technique. I know so how about if I give you a little recipe for my Awesome Mushrooms and Onions that I top the burgers with.

AWESOME MUSHROOM AND ONIONS

1 Large onion sliced (any kind of onion will do)
2lbs Mushrooms sliced (Make you life easy and by the sliced ones)
3Tbsp olive oil
3Tbsp Butter
1/2cup wine believe it or not you can use red or white

Heat up a pan on medium heat add olive oil and butter. Then add onion, cook until it starts getting soft. Add the mushrooms and salt. The salt brings out the water in the mushrooms so then you can get them to start browning. When the mushrooms have some brown on them (you be the judge here I like darker brown to me it is more flavor). Then add the wine. Turn the heat down to medium low and let the wine fully reduce. There should be no more wine left just a lovely pile of soft onions and mushrooms. This will take a good ½ hour or more. Have patience the flavor is incredible.

A perfect topper for your burgers

Enjoy and Have Fun Cooking

TIP OF THE DAY
Only cook with wine that you would drink. Plus that way you get to enjoy a glass while you are cooking.