How do you make a gourmet burger?

Question

How do you make a gourmet burger?

Answer 1

It depends on how you define "gourmet burger."  Most places that sell "gourmet burgers" merely have a hand-shaped or a thicker than usual patty and decorate it with different kinds of toppings that might not be found at your usual burger joint, such as unique cheeses, particular mushroom types (shitake, portabello, etc.), micro-greens instead of lettuce, other unique vegetables, and/or additional meats, such as lobster, crab meat, prosciutto, etc.  Also, different types of buns or rolls might be used.

Other concepts vary the patty itself by various means ranging from superior grade or exotic meat to unique spicing.  Specific herbs and spices can be mixed in to the meat, or an herb butter can be placed in the center before cooking.  Also, a specific type of beef might be used, such as Kobe (SP?) or Black Angus.  Alternately, more expensive cuts can be ground up into hamburger patties, such as rib eye or fillet mignon.  Also, alternate meats can be used to make the patty such as venison, lamb, buffalo, pork, or even poultry, fowl, or seafood.

Then, there are those who view the traditional ordinary burger, possibly with cheese, as the true gourmet burger.  The philosophy on this is that dressing up the burger or altering it detracts from the essence of the burger and turns it into something it was never intended to be.

Answer 2

Try something different, like using buffalo or corned beef/brisket:

Buffalo Burgers Recipe courtesy George Duran

Show:  Ham on the Street

Episode:  Grilling on the Edge  

  

1 1/2 pounds ground buffalo

1/2 pound ground chuck

1 medium onion, finely chopped, about 1 cup

3 tablespoons sun-dried tomato paste

1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

4 hamburger buns, for serving

Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high.

Put the buffalo, chuck, onion, tomato paste, and liquid smoke in a large bowl and season generously with salt and pepper. Mix everything together with your hands until it is well combined.

Take about 1 cup (8 ounces) of the meat mixture and form it into patties with your hands or in a hamburger press. When you have them all made, grill them, turning frequently, until cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes total. (Alternately, cook them in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes.) Serve on hamburger rolls with the toppings of your choice.

OR

The Burger Bar Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence

Show:  Tyler's Ultimate

Episode:  Ultimate Hamburgers  



2 pounds brisket, ground

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 thin slices Swiss cheese

4 hamburger buns, split

Preheat a large cast-iron skillet to medium hot. Take a few paper towels and fold them several times to make a thick square. Blot a small amount of oil on the paper towel and carefully and quickly wipe the hot skillet to make a nonstick surface.

Season the ground meat in a bowl with salt and pepper. Give it about 3 turns in the bowl with your hands or a big spoon and it's done. Shape into 4 patties. When the skillet is hot, put the burgers on the skillet and cook 4 minutes on the first side and 5 for the second side for rare; 7 minutes per side for medium, adding the cheese during the final minute or 2 to melt. Remove the burgers to a plate. Rub the skillet with the folded paper towel again to clean it. Then toast the buns cut side down for about 1 minute, just to mark them. Serve the hamburgers in the buns with the accompaniments below.

Sauteed Mushrooms:

Saute 1 pound thickly sliced mushrooms in 1/4 cup olive oil with 2 sliced garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves over super-high heat until nicely browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in a couple of drops fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavor.

Caramelized Onions:

Heat 2 tablespoons unsalted butter with 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add 2 onions, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook slowly until well caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes.

Tomatoes with Sea Salt and Chives:

Thickly slice 2 pounds red and yellow beefsteak tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt and 1/2 bunch chopped fresh chives.

Bacon with Rosemary:

Lay out 1/2 pound sliced bacon on a baking sheet, strip leaves from 1 sprig rosemary and throw them on top with lots of cracked black pepper and roast at 400 degrees F until the bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes.

Herbed Horseradish Mayonnaise:

Stir together 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish, 1/4 cup freshly minced herbs such as parsley, basil, chives or scallion, 2 tablespoons olive oil, a little squeeze of lemon juice, and salt and pepper.

Answer 3

The great thing about burgers is that you can add whatever you enjoy most to them. I do several things to change things around a bit.

1. I broil or grill them with just some Worcestershire and garlic powder in the meat. Then I add various cheese to melt on top, ( co-jack, Swiss, muenster) .  If you like mushrooms, I saute sliced ones in, 1Tbsp. Worcestershire,  1/2 cup beef broth, and 1 Tsp. garlic . Then I place them on Texas Garlic Bread slices, that have been previously baked.  Very yummy and filling. I put out sliced tomatoes, cooked bacon or bacon' bits, sour cream, Ranch dressing, Sweet Baby Ray's Bar B' Que sauce, & sliced vadalia onions for everyone to put what they like on top.

2. I make "Stuffed" burgers in the oven.  I make two THIN patties that are going to be formed together later. I fill one patty with a mixture of sour cream, pepperoni, or whipped cream cheese and bacon, or any similar mixture that you might prefer, like Ranch with onion, etc. You only need 1-2 Tblsp. in the center of the meat. Then I mold the second patty firmly on top, closing all the edges of meat together. Sprinkle with garlic powder, Then, I wrap them in foil and bake them @ 350 for 40 minutes, turning the foil over half way through. I top them with shredded co-Jack after removing the foil. They are very filling and great suprises inside for burger lovers.

Hope these help a bit, and Enjoy!

Answer 4

buy Angus meat at your local meat market. That is the best choice of meat.  Cook it to medium rare and put your favorite topping on.  I love season salt on my pattys and a sauce from the deli section.

Gourmet burger is all about the MEAT!!!