The Ultimate Burger
No doubt many of you have already begun warming your grills for the 4th of July festivities. If hamburgers are on the menu, The Early Show resident chef Bobby Flay says heed his advice for it's not too late to create the ultimate burger for your holiday guests.
The meat:
Ground chuck is the suggested meat for burgers because it's lower in fat and calories as compared to ground beef. Chef Flay suggests using chuck that's about 80% lean and 20% fat. This grade of lean beef provides both flavor and juiciness without giving pause to those who are a little health conscious.
Condiments:
Since high-end ground chuck has such a strong flavor, the suggestion is that all other condiments be equally as fresh and flavorful to accompany appropriately. Chef Flay uses only salt and pepper to season his hamburger meat. He reserves the additional flavor additives for the condiments du jour that come once the burger has left he grill and made the bun it's permanent home. When it comes to mixing in of the salt and pepper he says turn the meat only once and avoid pressing it. Over mixing causes the ground chuck to become tough.
Cooking time:
When it's time for the grill the key is 2 to 3 minutes on each side of the burger to get the perfect medium doneness.
The best-quality aged-cheddar, or Swiss cheese, is what can easily turn the ultimate burger into the "ultimate cheeseburger." The rule with block cheese is that it should be sliced by hand on an "as needed" basis. This is far more preferable, namely because it will help the cheese last longer.
Bread:
Get soft sesame seed rolls. Biting into that thick and juicy burger can become a struggle if one needs to fight through a hard piece of bread.
Garnish:
As for the garnish, the choice becomes one of personal preference. Chef Flay recommends garnishing with one or all of the following: sweet onion and red onion, grilled or raw, romaine lettuce, slices of beefsteak tomato, pickles, horseradish mustard or ketchup.
The following is his recipe:
The Ultimate Burger
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
2 lbs ground chuck, 80/20 percent
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 pound block of best quality aged cheddar, sliced into 1/4 inch thick slices
1/2 pound block of best quality Swiss cheese, sliced into 1/4 inch thick slices
Sweet onion and red onion, sliced into 1/2 inch thick slices,
grilled or raw 4 soft sesame seed rolls
Romaine lettuce
1 large ripe beefsteak tomato, cut into 4 slices
Pickles, optional
Horseradish mustard
Ketchup
Preparation
- Place beef in a large bowl and lightly break up the meat with your fingers.
- Season with salt and pepper and gently mold into four 1/2 pound burgers. Place on grill and grill on one side until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
- Carefully turn the burger over and continue grilling for 2-3 minutes for medium doneness. Garnish with any or all of the condiments.
MMII, CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved