Smash Burgers

Wednesday 15 June 2016

Smash Burgers





I watched the Pioneer Woman doing something like this on the television one day and it looked dead simple and delicious and decided to try to replicate it for us here at home. 


I am not a person who eats burgers very often and when I  do, more often than not they are a turkey burger.  When I saw her making these though, they just seemed impossible to resist! 



 Smash Burgers






I knew that I had to try them!  They turned out great and were something we both really enjoyed.  Simple to make and oh so delicious.   



No seasonings needed except for salt and black pepper. 
 

When I was growing up my mom used to make burgers for us sometimes. I never liked them. She used cheap beef and they were full of fat and gristle.  They were over cooked as well.  We never had buns, only bread and to this day the taste of bread and mustard reminds me of those terrible burgers.

They were really not very nice at all. Not like these burgers! 



Smash Burgers





For a good burger, you want to use a good butchers beef if possible, not the stuff from the shops which is pumped full of red dyes and water.  
 


The secret to these tasty burgers lies in searing them on a very hot pan quickly and pressing them down as flat as you can so that they cook quickly and brown nicely.



I had always been told not to press a burger when cooking it because you press out all the juices. I had my reservations, but I went with it anyways.  I mean, why not trust the Pioneer Woman?  Her husband grows beef!

  

 Smash Burgers





Because they cooked rather quickly all of the juices stay inside and you get a really tasty burger.  Who knew!



The heat from the burgers melts the cheese.  That combination served on a toasted bun with your favorite garnishes results in a burger that is very delicious indeed.


If you do enjoy a good turkey burger, you might be interested in these:

SPICY RANCH TURKEY BURGERS - These are filled with lovely flavours and always goes down a real treat!  From the cool and creamy ranch slaw that gets tucked into it to the spiciness of the burger it is a real taste sensation!


HERBED TURKEY BURGERSParsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.  Those herbs are beautiful partners and all go very well with turkey. There is also some sautéed red onion and garlic in the mix also. Served with a delicious ranch slaw and topped with cheese, these always go down a real treat!




Smash Burgers






*Smash Burgers*
Serves 4

Delicious burgers, nicely browned on the outsides and filled with cheese.   I like to serve them on toasted soft buns with lots of pickles, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, etc.  But you can pick your own garnishes.  Whatever you choose, your family will love these. 


1 pound of ground beef mince
(Not too lean but not too fatty)
salt and black pepper
4 slices of easy melting cheese
Toasted buns and desired garnishes 


Smash Burgers






Divide the ground beef mince into 8 equal portions, shaping each into a ball.  Heat a large nonstick griddle pan over high heat.  


Once is is nice and heated, place the balls of beef onto the griddle pan one at a time and using a non slotted spatula, or the bottom of a cup to press down very heavily on the meat to flatten it out as thin and flat as you can.  


 Season to taste with salt and black pepper.  Cook for about 2 minutes, until nicely browned.  You will know when this has happened as the sides of the patties will start to colour.  Flip over.  Cook for about 1 minute.   


Top half of the patties with 1 slice of cheese and then with the other patties.  Give it half a minute or so to melt the cheese and then place on the toasted buns and serve.



Smash Burgers





Bon Appetit!  Enjoy!

8 comments

  1. You bum! HOW could you do this to me!! Are you TRYING to drive me out of my mind? Just a couple of days ago I was saying how much I was craving a GOOD steak and a great hamburger or cheeseburger. It's easier to just do without the bread or the bun when its the disgusting tasteless stuff I've found so far in gluten free bread. I NEED to sit down and start trying out gf recipes to make my own. I wonder if you have ANY concept or understanding of HOW good those burgers look to me. I close my eyes and I can just FEEL that nice soft bun in my hand and the juice that rolls out if I press a bit on the sandwich. I can feel and hear the crunch of the pickle and the lettuce and that luscious squishiness of the vine-ripened tomato with just a touch (not too much now) of a high-quality mayonnaise. I don't even know HOW long its been since I had a REAL...NORMAL...hot, juicy cheeseburger on a soft potato bread bun. There is a company near me (actually in Pennsylvania outside of Chambersburg, I might live in Maryland but I live just about 4 miles from the state line) called Martin's Rolls that has been around for decades. For those of you in the States, yes, they ARE (or were at least) a Mennonite family. (around here MANY of the Martins are Mennonite or descended from a Mennonite family). They also make a potato bread and is second only to the Hawaiian Dinner rolls. (aren't they incredible too) While they're called potato bread and rolls and yes, they do have potato flour in them they are however also made with a great deal of regular AP flour thus making them inedible for we poor, sad Celiac sufferers. I've loved these rolls ever since I was a kid. They're a great favorite of many people for things like cheeseburgers, etc. As a kid, believe it or not, a very special, just for a treat meal was homemade cheeseburger, homemade french fries and homemade milkshakes. The everyday normal meals were the steaks, roasts, chicken, pork chops, all of those sorts of things. It's crazy, but that's how it was. My mom worked fulltime so to do those items were very time consuming and probably why they were a special treat. This cheeseburger looks so much like what our special one did its almost spooky. But sadly, until I can discover a hamburger bun I like as well as I do the rolls i enjoy, I'll just continue going without and eating them bunless, usually with AI Steak Sauce.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh dear Pam! I wish I could help you with the bun. All that food you have described sounds fabulously delicious. A good bun makes for a great hamburger! I have used Brioche buns here and they are fabulous. But a well done burger with A1 steak sauce can also be a very tasty thing! xo

      Delete
  2. Oh Pam I feel your pain. Here in Oz you can now order a Macca's burger wrapped in lettuce leaf.

    It is time to yell snap. I have come home late and made mince into burgers and am eating one now. Mum would never let me use plain mince like that. However, I have had it and it was darn good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Plain mince is highly underrated Suzan! I love a great plain burger with nothing added! xo

      Delete
  3. :)I love when the cheese melts..I have to make your pork burgers again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes that's lovely Monique. The pork burgers are lovely! xo

      Delete
  4. I love a good burger and always cook my burgers by making them into a ball and then smashing the meat when I see liquid (fat) pool around the ball. It makes a great crispy crust on the burger. Decent meat and S & P are all you need for great flavor.
    I was surprised to read that you get The Pioneer Woman across the pond!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds great Sharon! I like the Pioneer Woman! xo

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by. I love to hear from you so do not be shy!


BEFORE LEAVING A COMMENT OR RATING, ASK YOURSELF:
Did you make the recipe as directed? Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.

Is this comment helpful to other readers? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Remember that this website is run by a real person.

Are you here to complain about ads? Please keep in mind that I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising helps to defray my cost of doing so, and allows me to continue to post regular fresh content.

Thanks so much for your understanding! I appreciate you!