26 Classic Burger

Trinidad (Ecuador): The classic burger is and will always be an iconic meal of the public and it has been around since the late 19th century. Today people eat this meal for special occasions, but it also has become one that is enjoyed every day, ranging from millions of burgers consumed a day to billions served in a year. The classic burger is world renowned and enjoyed by many, and the ability to whip one up in minutes makes it even more special; not to mention you can build a burger as you please, with toppings ranging from bacon to avocados, and even macaroni. The burger has evolved where there are plant-based options now, opening a door for vegans and those following healthier diets. I generally think that the number 1 food in the U.S. is the classic burger which dominates every other food category when it comes to popularity. I received this recipe and others like it from both family and cookbooks where the creative styles vary. Again, recipes and ingredients involved in building a burger vary per consumer because there are just so many ways you can create one which is why this meal is so unique and diverse amongst others.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground lean (7% fat) beef
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup minced onion
• ¼ cup fine dried breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
• 1 or 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• About 1/2 teaspoon salt
• About 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 4 hamburger buns (4 in. wide), split
• About 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• About 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 iceberg lettuce leaves, rinsed and crisped
• 1 firm-ripe tomato, cored and thinly sliced
• 4 thin slices red onion

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix ground beef, egg, onion, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until well blended. Divide mixture into four equal portions and shape each into a patty about 4 inches wide.
2. Lay burgers on an oiled barbecue grill over a solid bed of hot coals or high heat on a gas grill (you can hold your hand at grill level only 2 to 3 seconds); close lid on gas grill. Cook burgers, turning once, until browned on both sides and no longer pink inside (cut to test), 7 to 8 minutes total. Remove from grill.
3. Lay buns, cut side down, on grill and cook until lightly toasted, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
4. Spread mayonnaise and ketchup on bun bottoms. Add lettuce, tomato, burger, onion, and salt and pepper to taste. Set bun tops in place.

Comments

Alpha, I agree with you about hamburger being number 1. When we visit the US and think about the US, hamburgers just pop. The influence of this type of meal has spread out around the world. The tinniest town in Ecuador, up in the high Andes, has hamburgers, their own version, somehow the same way you describe on the different ways to create this dish in your place. The names people use for different hamburgers here and I suppose in country as well, would make a great anthropological study. Thanks for sharing, I will be using your recipe, since this is one of the favorite meals in my family.