Bordertown Burgers With Spicy Onions Recipes

SPICED BURGERS WITH CHILI ONION RINGS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Put the poblano on a baking sheet and broil, turning, until charred in spots, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool. Reduce the oven temperature and bake the onion rings as the label directs. Season with salt, pepper and 1/4 teaspoon each chili powder and cumin.
• Meanwhile, combine the ketchup, cilantro, a pinch of lime zest and half of the lime juice in a small bowl; add more lime juice and salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Mix the ground beef, 1/2 teaspoon lime zest and the remaining 1 3/4 teaspoons chili powder and 3/4 teaspoon cumin in a large bowl with your hands until just combined. Form into four 3/4-inch-thick patties; season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the burgers and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side for medium rare.
• Peel, stem and seed the broiled poblano; cut into strips. Place the burgers on the buns with the ketchup sauce, lettuce and poblano. Serve with the onion rings and the remaining ketchup sauce.

GARLIC AND ONION BURGERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the beef, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, onion, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
• Preheat grill for high heat.
• Form burgers into 1/2 inch thick patties. Lightly oil grate. Place burgers on grill. Cook for approximately 6 minutes, turning once.

BORDERTOWN BURGERS WITH SPICY ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium-size skillet over medium heat.
• Add the onions and cook until golden brown (5-7 minutes), stirring often.
• Add the Worcestershire sauce and 1 Tbsp of the chipotle sauce, stirring well to evenly coat the onions. Then remove the onions from the heat and keep warm.
• Combine the ground beef, cilantro, salt, and 3 Tbsp of the chipotle sauce (Use 2 Tbsp for milder burgers) and shape into 4 burgers.
• Grill over medium-high heat. (Approx. 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. 5 minutes per side for medium-well.).
• Top each burger with a slice of pepper-jack cheese and grill until the cheese melts.
• Place the burgers on toasted buns, and top with the spicy onions.
• Add any burger toppings you're fond of. I like a little bit of horseradish mayo on my burgers.

OKLAHOMA ONION BURGERS

Steps:

• Divide the beef: Line a 13-by-18-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the ground beef into 4 even balls. Working one ball at a time and using your hands, massage the meat until it is cohesive and tacky, about 15 seconds. Next, using clean hands, roll each into a smooth ball. Place the balls on the baking sheet, with 1 ball in the center of each quadrant. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Shape the patties: Gently press each ball into a disk-shaped patty about 3 inches wide. Place the patties on a sheet pan or large plate, and season the tops with salt and pepper. Flip the patties, and top each with a large pile of sliced onions - as many as you can balance on top; they should resemble a large haystack. (It is important to not add salt to the onions at this point, as it will draw out excess moisture, which will inhibit searing.)
• Heat the skillet or griddle: Heat a large (12-inch) cast-iron or carbon-steel skillet or griddle (see Tips) over an indoor burner set to high heat or on the grates of a hot outdoor grill for a few minutes until very hot; a drop of water should skitter around the surface. (If you don't have a pan skillet or griddle big enough, you can cook the burgers in batches.) Place 1 patty of beef in the center of one quadrant of the pan, with the onions on top (do not add any oil).
• Smash the burgers: Using a very stiff spatula, press on the onions and beef to form a patty 4½- to 5-inches wide. As you smash, focus on the patty's edges so that the finished patty is slightly thicker in the center and smashed out as thinly as possible along the edges. Repeat with the remaining patties. Use the spatula to place any stray onions back on top of the burgers. Season the onions lightly with salt and pepper.
• Cook the burgers: Allow patties to cook without moving until the edges are dark brown and crusty, 1 to 2 minutes. Holding the spatula upside down (so that the head of the spatula is angled down to increase leverage), scrape the edges of each patty off the pan, working around each patty to ensure that you don't leave any crispy edges behind. When the edges have all been loosened, turn the spatula back over (so you are holding it the standard way) and flip the patties onion side down. Use the spatula and tongs or a fork to tuck any stray onion slices mostly under the patties.
• Steam the cheese and buns: Add a slice of cheese to each patty. Place the top half of each burger bun on top of the cheese, and place the bottom half of each bun on top of the top bun, split-side down. Cover the pan or griddle with a large domed lid, a large overturned saucepan or a clean folded dish towel. (To avoid a fire, make sure the edges of the dish towel do not hang over the skillet or griddle. If cooking on an outdoor grill, just close the lid.) Continue cooking until the onions are browned along the edges and the buns are steamed through, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
• To serve, open the cover or lid. Remove the bottom burger bun halves to a serving platter. Add pickles and condiments as desired. (These burgers don't typically need condiments.) Lift each burger from the skillet with the spatula and transfer to the bottom bun. Serve immediately.

SMASH BURGERS WITH GRIDDLED ONIONS AND SPICY SPECIAL SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk the mayonnaise, pickled jalapenos, brine, mustard and garlic together in a small bowl. Set aside until ready to serve.
• Combine the chuck and brisket in a medium bowl and using 2 forks, "pull" the meat apart, breaking up any clumps and combining the two meats together. This will seem counterintuitive but it will blend the meats together without compacting them. Divide into 4 equal portions and form balls (about the size of tennis balls) being careful not to compact or overwork the meat -- do not form patties.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and season with salt and pepper; cook, tossing occasionally, until golden browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle with the sugar and toss until caramelized, about 1 minute. Transfer to a plate.
• Increase the heat to high and heat the same skillet until very hot. Add the remaining oil (or 1 tablespoon oil, if working in batches), swirling to coat.
• Working in batches if necessary, place balls in the skillet and smash flat with a metal spatula using the handle of a wooden spoon to press down on the spatula to form 4-inch patties (you want to see craggy edges). Season liberally with salt and pepper and cook, undisturbed, until the outer edges are brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the patties, season with salt and pepper and top each patty with a slice of cheese. Cook until the cheese droops and the burgers are medium-rare, about 1 minute.
• Serve the patties on the toasted buns with the spicy special sauce, griddled onions, lettuce and tomatoes.

GRINGO BURGERS WITH SPICY ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add onion and cook for 5 mins, or until golden brown, stirring often.
• Stir in 1 TBL Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, mix well and remove from heat.
• Combine ground beef, cilantro, green onion, salt and the remaining 3 TBL Tabasco, mix well and form into 4 patties.
• Grill over medium-high heat to desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium rare.
• Top each burger with a slice of cheese and grill until cheese is just melted.
• Place on toasted buns and top with the spicy onions and greens.
• For those spicy challenged you can use the Chipotle Tabasco as you would ketcup.
• I'm sure you could use plain Tabasco, but this Chipotle flavor is very nice.