Burger Recipe – Simply Homemade

Burgers come in all shapes and sizes with every household having their own “secret burger recipe”.

No barbecue or summer get together is complete without a juicy home made burger, eaten alfresco with friends.

I remember, as a child, watching my mother making delicious homemade burgers with this very easy burger recipe and a that point realising today must be barbecue day.

Barbecue day meant people, fun, and lots of scrummy food.  In front of us would be laid a plethora of barbecue favourites. Homemade coleslaw, crispy oven baked potatoes, an array of cold meats, Sausages sizzling in their skins, various marinated meats, and poultry cooked and passed around the hungry crowd. It was always gratefully received by everyone.

Like any occasion there is always a star of the show, at barbeques and birthday parties , the homemade burger is usually the brightest star, and the most eagerly awaited.

Burgers are as individual as people and there are no limits to which toppings you can add to your burger to make it unique. Try smoked bacon, mushrooms, onion rings and gruyere cheese (my personal favourite) , or even plain salad leaves tomato and cheese. Be inventive with your burger recipe, it adds to the enjoyment.

This delicious but very easy to make burger recipe uses no fancy hard to find ingredients. It is very easy on the washing up, and keeps them coming back for more.

Burger Recipe Ingredients

540g/1lb 3oz lean minced beef.

1/2 tsp ground Cumin.

1 onion1 tbsp Dijon mustard.

2 cloves garlic – peeled.

salt and freshly ground black pepper.

A large splodge of quality tomato ketchup.

1 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce.

1/2 fresh red chilli  de-seeded.

1 slice of white or wholemeal bread.

Making the Burgers

In a  food processor, add the slice of bread, cumin, pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Whizz all these ingredients together for 1 minute, then empty into a large mixing bowl.

Next, add to the food processor bowl, the onion, chilli & garlic and blend together until fully combined. Scrape contents into the mixing bowl containing the breadcrumb mixture.

Next, add the minced beef to the bowl breaking it up as you go so there are no large lumps.
Add a really good splodge of tomato ketchup, the mustard and the soy sauce. This not only flavours this burger recipe but binds it together and stops it cracking.

This is where it becomes fun. Make sure you wash  your hands thoroughly and dry them on a clean towel.

There is no other way with this burger recipe than to get stuck in. Mix the contents of the mixing bowl with your hands, in a kneading, mixing motion. Patting the mixture down gently to press it together from time to time so it binds. Don’t press it too tight as this will ruin the texture of the burgers. Continue mixing until you are completely certain all ingredients are evenly mixed.

Divide your burger mixture into four, make them into ball shapes and flatten with the palm of your hand, and shape to make individual burger patties.

Cooking Burgers

When cooking this burger recipe ensure the barbecue or other heat source is on high heat. Apply high and direct heat to your burger and cook it as quickly as possible.

To ensure your burger remains juicy, you should only flip the burgers once, as the more you flip your burger, the more you lessen the juices in your burger and it becomes less succulent.

Cooking time

Burger cooking time varies greatly and depends on many things such as how hot your barbecue and griddle pan is. Usually, burgers can be cooked on a barbecue in 10-12 minutes flipping in between. But, whatever you do, make sure your burgers are cooked thoroughly and are piping hot all the way through before eating them. If in doubt invest in a digital food temperature probe, they are inexpensive and can be purchased on ebay

What’s your favourite burger toppings?

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Cottage Pie Easy Recipe

Cottage Pie is a traditional family favourite here in the UK, Just like spaghetti bolognese there are hundreds if not thousands of variations, with every person that makes it claiming their recipe for cottage pie is the best. Warm and filling, cottage pie is a perfect supper treat all year round. This recipe uses everyday ingredients such as gravy granules and easy cooking techniques so that anyone can make it quickly and easily.

This Cottage Pie Recipe is one of the best I have tasted, its simplicity doesn’t hinder the result in the slightest.

Cottage Pie Ingredients

500g lean minced beef
1 onion, finely chopped
2 large carrots, peeled and diced
1 celery stick, finely chopped
1 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp dried mixed herbs
350ml hot beef stock, made with 2 good quality stock cubes
2 tbsp good beef gravy granules
900g floury potatoes, peeled and cut into small chunks
100ml semi-skimmed milk, warmed
25g butter
Salt & Pepper to taste

Cottage Pie The Easy Way

Heat a large, heavy-based pan until hot, then add the onions and carrots, and fry, stirring occasionally to ensure they don’t burn, for 5 minutes, or until lightly browned and softened.

Add the minced beef to the pan ensuring you break it up evenly so there are no large lumps of meat. Continue to cook, stirring only occasionally to allow browning of the meat to take place. Check that the minced meat doesn’t burn and stick to the pan as this will taint the flavour of the cottage pie.

Meanwhile, stir the tomato ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and mixed herbs into the stock.

Stir the flavoured stock into the mince and vegetables. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and cook gently for 15-20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

While the minced beef and vegetable mixture is cooking, cook the potatoes in a pan of boiling water for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain the potatoes, then mash with the warmed milk and the butter. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Preheat the grill to medium.

Strain the meat and vegetables through a colendar or sieve reserving the cooking liquid in another saucepan ready to make the gravy.

Gently stir the gravy granules into the reserved liquid, over a medium heat, and bring just to boiling point stirring all the time to thicken. Continue to cook for 1 more minute and remove from heat.

Spoon the mince mixture into a large, warm ovenproof dish, add a generous few spoonfulls of the thickened gravy to the mince mixture and stir to combine.

Spread the mashed potato over the top and fluff up with a fork.

Put under the grill to brown lightly and crisp the top.

Serve with Garden Peas, green beans,  Cabbage or baked beans and a jug of the  delicious thick gravy for the perfect easy cottage pie.

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