Burger Plate Recipes

PLATE LUNCH BURGERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, egg, salt and pepper. Add beef; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into four 1/2-in.-thick patties. Press a shallow indentation in the center of each with your thumb. Brush both sides of patties with oil., Grill burgers, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat 4-5 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 160°. Serve on buns with macaroni salad.

BURGER PLATE

Steps:

• Using a Microplane or other fine grater, finely grate about 1 tablespoon of the onion from the root end into a large bowl and set aside. Slice the remainder of the onion crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rings, add to a separate small bowl and fill with cold tap water. Soak the onion rings in the refrigerator to mellow out.
• To the bowl with the grated onion, add the ground beef, panko, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, brown sugar and nutmeg. Season with the salt and pepper. Form the beef into 4 patties (about 1-inch thick).
• Heat a large skillet over medium. Add enough oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan and wait until it's shimmery. Carefully add the patties to the pan and cook until browned and caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Remove the pan from the heat, top each patty with a slice of cheese and cover the pan until the cheese is melted and the hamburgers are no longer pink on the insides, 1 to 2 minutes.
• To serve, evenly divide the cheese-topped patties, the tomatoes, pickles and bread among 4 plates. Drain the onions and add to the plates, along with a squirt each of ketchup and mustard. Eat with a knife and fork or, if you'd like, sandwiched between the bread.

HAMBURGER PATTIES

Steps:

• Sometimes I vary the seasonings- using a steak seasoning or Cajun seasoning instead of salt and pepper.
• Mix ingredients with your hands using a light touch.
• Don't be tempted to overmix.
• If you do, it becomes too dense.
• When charcoal grilling, add 1/2 cup water to the beef mixture to keep it from drying out.
• For pan frying, don't use a nonstick pan- it won't brown as well, and heat some oil in the pan before adding burgers to keep the burgers from sticking and to help sear and form a nice brown, crispy exterior.
• Either method will take about 10- 12 minutes of cooking time, depending on thickness of patty, temperature of heat source and your preference (we like ours medium cooked).
• Note: when pan-frying don't be tempted to press down and squeeze all the juice out, just turn them more often (turn only once on the grill).

THE GARBAGE PLATE (BURGER VERSION)

Steps:

• TO MAKE SPECIAL SAUCE:.
• In large skillet fry chopped onion and garlic in oil until soft. Add meat, stirring constantly with fork to keep its texture fine.
• Once meat is cooked add water and tomato paste, cook for 10 minutes.
• Then add sugar and spices. Cook 30 minutes, adding water if needed.
• ASSEMBLY:.
• Mix together the noodles, mayo, celery, seasoning, and carrots and place into a large square foam container (or plate, but not as authentic).
• Fry potatoes in butter until very crispy then put next to mac salad on plate.
• Place OPTIONAL beans of plate if needed.
• Cook hamburger until well done and top with sliced cheese.
• Then place burgers ON TOP of the mac salad and home fries.
• Mix together about equal parts mustard and horseradish and pour on top of burgers and top with optional onions.
• Pour hot sauce or VERY LARGE spoonfuls of special sauce and a HUGE glob of ketchup over burgers (some like to stir everything together so its one huge mess).
• Eat with plastic fork, or just use the bread as a spoon and try not to pass out. This should take about an hour to finish.
• YUM, every drunk college kids dream food.