The Best Burger

This juicy bad boy is a chunk of half pound hamburger heaven. Thick moist beef topped with the crispiest bacon, soft melted cheese, bitter rocket and a simple burger sauce.
Best not eaten every day unless you want to head the way of Elvis, but it ticks every burger box you could want and then some...

If made, pressed and chilled well a good burger needs no extra ingredients such as egg or breadcrumbs to bind the mix. These just detract from the taste.

If like me you have a bread maker then go the whole hog and make your own fresh buns, it really makes a difference to this special treat.

Recipe (Serves 2):

Ingredients:

Burger:

• 1lb minced beef, don't get lean mince it will be dry, aim for something approx 23% fat. 
• good pinch, chilli flakes
• generous amount of salt and pepper

Crispy Bacon:

• 2 rashers streaky bacon
• olive oil

Burger Sauce:

• 3 tsp tomato ketchup
• 1 tsp mayonaise
• 1 tsp mustard

Buns:

• 350g OO flour, this is super fine pizza flour and will give you a very light fluffy bun
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp chopped rosemary, this adds a lovely delicate savoury flavour
• handful of sesame seeds
• 8fl oz water

To Top:

• mature cheddar or blue cheese
• very finely sliced raw onion
• handful of rocket or watercress which will balance the richness of the burger

                                                    Crispy bacon


Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160f
2. If you are making your own buns, place all the ingredients in the bread machine and set to a 45 minute dough programme.
3. Wipe the streaky bacon with olive oil and wrap in foil. Place it between two baking trays to keep it flat and place in the oven for 25 minutes until super crisp as pictured, then turn the oven up to full.
4. Mix the beef, chilli flakes and plenty of salt and pepper, divide into two patties and press well. Place them in the fridge to chill.
5. Mix together all the sauce ingredients and place with the rocket, onion and cheese for later.
6. Once the dough is ready make use enough to make two buns the same diameter as your patties and use the rest for spares and freeze them for another time.
7. Leave to rest for 10 minutes then mix a little salt and sugar with warm water and brush the tops before sprinkling on the sesame seeds.
8. Bake in the hot oven for 10 minutes or until golden and the bottoms sound hollow when tapped. Turn the oven down to 150f.
9. Heat a non-stick pan to medium high then remove the patties from the fridge, brush with a little oil and place carefully in the pan. Ensure both sides are well charred and the place them in the oven for 10 minutes to finish cooking.
10. Remove from the oven, turn off the heat then top with the sliced onion, your cheese of choice and pop back in for a couple of minutes for the cheese to melt and the burger to rest a little.
11. Half your buns, spread both sides with the burger sauce then top with the burgers and leaves.

Serve with a cold beer and chips (If you can manage them!)

Tip: If you have a burger press this will help you to create a better shaped burger. I got mine from Crate & Barrel in the States but they are readily available online.