New Jersey Burger Aka The Crunchburger Recipes

WASHINGTON STATE BURGER (AKA WILD MUSHROOM-CHEDDAR BURGER)

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and melt the butter in a large saute pan over high heat until almost smoking. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the shallot, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the mushrooms are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the thyme and parsley and transfer to a bowl.
• Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Form each portion loosely into a 3/4-inch-thick burger and make a deep depression in the center with your thumb. Season both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.
• Heat a gas grill to high. Brush the burgers with canola oil and grill until desired doneness is reached. Top each with a slice of cheese and cover during the last minute of cooking.
• Place the burgers on the bun bottoms and top each burger with a large spoonful of the mushrooms. Cover with the bun tops and serve immediately.

CRUNCHBURGER (AKA THE SIGNATURE BURGER)

Steps:

• Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Form each portion loosely into a 3/4-inch-thick burger and make a deep depression in the center with your thumb. Season both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.
• Heat the oil in the pan or griddle over high heat until the oil begins to shimmer. Cook the burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the first side, about 3 minutes for beef and 5 minutes for turkey. Flip over the burgers. Cook beef burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the second side, 4 minutes for medium rare (3 minutes if topping with cheese) or until cooked to desired degree of doneness. Cook turkey burgers until cooked throughout, about 5 minutes on the second side.
• Add the cheese, if using, to the tops of the burgers during the last minute of cooking and top with a basting cover, close the grill cover, or tent the burgers with aluminum foil to melt the cheese.
• Place the burgers on the bun bottoms and, if desired, top with tomato, lettuce, onion, and a dollop of horseradish mustard mayonnaise. Pile on the potato chips, top with the bun tops, and serve immediately.
• Whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, and horseradish in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. The sauce can be prepared 1 day in advance and kept covered in the refrigerator.

CLAHAN'S JERSEY BEEF

Steps:

• On cutting board, remove all the fat and gristle from sirloin. Marinate by spreading mustard and garlic over top. Add Worcestershire sauce, black pepper and salt. Let the meat marinate at room temperature for at least one hour (but not more that 2). When ready to cook, start barbecue and let it warm up for about ten minutes. Place the beef on the grill. Cook for 8 minutes per side, (medium rare) or until the beef is done to your taste. Transfer beef to carving board, using barbecue tongs. Carve the beef by slicing across the grain into strips 1/4-inch thick. At the same time that you transfer the beef, start toasting the white sandwich bread. Slice the bread into 3 strips and place on serving platter. Arrange beef on top of sliced bread.
• In a saucepan on the grill, heat unsalted butter. Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic, wine, pepper, salt and, whisking constantly, cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from grill and spoon the sauce over the beef and bread. Serve immediately. Must eat while hot, and must be eaten using your fingers.

BRUNCH BURGER

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in batches in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Do not wipe out the skillet.
• Shape the ground beef with your hands into 4 round patties about 1 1/2 inches thick and season each burger on both sides with the salt and pepper. Make a divot in the center of each burger. Put the burgers in the skillet with the bacon fat, divot-side up (see Cook's Note). Cook the burgers over medium-high heat, turning once, until golden brown on both sides and cooked to medium doneness, about 8 minutes total. Use a heatproof spoon to remove some of the bacon fat from the skillet as the burgers cook if desired.
• Top each burger with 2 slices of the cheese. Carefully add 1/4 cup of water to the pan and immediately cover tightly with a lid. Count to 10. Lift the lid or dome to make sure that the cheese is totally melted (if not, cover again and count 5 seconds longer). Transfer the burgers to a plate and loosely tent with foil.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully crack 2 eggs into two small bowls. Add the eggs to the pan, season with salt and pepper and reduce the heat to medium. Cover the skillet with a lid for 1 to 2 minutes to "baste"; the yolk should still be runny. Remove the eggs from the pan and set aside. Repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 tablespoon of canola oil and 2 eggs.
• Stir together the ketchup and hot sauce in a small bowl.
• Toast the buns in a toaster. Spread the spicy ketchup on the top bun. Place the burgers on the bottom buns and top each with a fried egg and 2 strips of crispy bacon. Close the burgers and serve with more spicy ketchup if desired.

CRUNCHBURGER (AKA THE SIGNATURE BURGER)

Steps:

• Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Form each portion loosely into a 3/4-inch-thick burger and make a deep depression in the center with your thumb. Season both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.
• Cook the burgers, using the oil (see page 16) and topping each one with 2 slices of cheese and a basting cover during the last minute of cooking (see page 21).
• Place the burgers on the bun bottoms and, if desired, top with tomato, lettuce, onion, and a dollop of horseradish mustard mayonnaise. Pile on the potato chips, top with the bun tops, and serve immediately.