Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Burger Time!

During the summer, more people will be at their grills. Most of them, if not all of them, will be making burgers. Here is my favorite way to make a great burger.
Make a rub...here's a link to my favorite one, created by Steven Raichlen.

http://www.barbecuebible.com/featured/howtogrill/basic_barbecue_.php Make a patty. Don't skimp. Use about 1/2 lb. Make a hole in the center. This will help keep the patty from bunching up, and will help it cook more evenly in the middle. Sprinkle the patty generously with the rub and pat it into the meat. Put it in the fridge for about 3-4 hours.

Light up your grill. Use a paper towel to rub some olive oil or vegetable oil onto the grates before they heat up. If they're already hot, use tongs to hold the paper towel. When the grates are hot, roast an Annaheim pepper until it blackens on both sides. Wrap it in a paper towel afterwards for about 15 minutes and then remove the skin. By now, it should have separated from the surface of the pepper. chop the pepper and, if you want, remove the seeds.

Throw your burger patty on. Cook 6-8 minutes per side, depending on thickness and how you want it cooked. DO NOT SLAP THE PATTY WITH A SPATULA. That will make you lose juices, and these will ignite below and cause flare-ups. The result? A dry burger. Only flip it once. Remember that if it is sticking to the grate, it is not seared enough. Give it a bit longer. As soon as you flip the patty, add your chopped peppers, and top them with a slice of your favorite cheese.

Toast your bread on the grates or warming rack. Check each piece frequently, as some parts of the grill will be hotter than others. Toast both sides and use bread with sesame seeds...they will also toast and add a whole new flavor. If you are cooking on charcoal, throw some hickory chips on top of your coals. Bread absorbs smoke quickly....and a burger with smoked bread....mmmmmm.....

When done, assemble your burger with whatever condiments you enjoy. If you use lettuce, put it on the bottom bun. This will help keep the burger's juices from sogging up the bread. Finally, enjoy your burger!
It may seem like there's a lot to do here, but with the compliments you'll get, it'll be well worth it.