Sunday, April 3, 2011

The Ultimate Cheeseburger

Ingredients:
1 lb of ground beef (preferably 20% fat, 80% lean)
2 medium sized onions
4 slices of bacon
1 avocado
4 slices colby jack cheese
4 hamburger buns
salt
pepper
garlic powder
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
jarred jalapeno slices (optional)
1/2 lemon or lime

Directions:
Slice each onion in half and lie the open part on the cutting board.  Remove the peel.  Then make very thin slices of the onion and separate the slices.  Put a little oil in the bottom of a saute pan and put onions in pan.  Leave onions on medium to medium low heat to cook them slowly.  If you put the heat on medium high or high they will burn.  The process will take about 20 minutes for the onions to fully carmelize.  After about 5 minutes sprinkle onions with salt and stir.  Continue to stir about every 3 minutes.  After 15 minutes add the balsamic vinegar and stir. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Lay the 4 slices of bacon on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until golden brown. 

Cut around the pit of the avocado and remove the pit using a spoon or a knife.  Using a large spoon scoop the flesh of the avocado out of the skin in one large piece.  Then make thin slices of avocado and squirt lemon or lime juice onto the slices so they do not turn brown. 

For the actual burger patties, take the meat and separate into balls of meat.  Some people like bigger burgers than others, so you can make them to suit people's tastes.  The trick to a juicy burger is to handle the meat minimally.  Form each ball into patties and make an indent in the middle with your finger so the middle is thinner than the outside.  Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on both sides of the patties.   Get a large skillet very hot and put oil in the bottom.  Put the patties into the pan.  Do not touch them once they are in the pan.  Allow them to cook for 6-7 minutes without being touched at all in the pan.  A brown crust should have formed on one side, then flip the burgers once.  Again, do not touch the burgers at all.  After another 6-7 minutes, place the slices of cheese on the burger and either put a lid or tin foil over the pan to melt the cheese. It should take about 2-3 minutes to completely melt. 

One the cheese has melted, place the burgers on the bun.  Top with the onions, avocado slices, bacon slice, and jalapeno slices and enjoy!




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