Best Epicurious Not So Secret Sauce Recipes

NOT-SO-SECRET SPAGHETTI SAUCE (SORRY, MOM!)

NOT-SO-SECRET SPAGHETTI SAUCE (SORRY, MOM!) image

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1 jar of inexpensive (!) spaghetti sauce
1 lb ground turkey or ground beef
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 lb sausage (Italian is great)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 small onion
1 can mushrooms
1 clove garlic, crushed (optional)
Seasonings:
seasoned salt
garlic powder
a hefty dash of chili powder
another big dash of Italian seasoning
1-2 teaspoons olive oil (although you can use butter or margarine if you'd prefer)

Steps:

Saute the chopped onion, clove of garlic and mushrooms in olive oil. Empty the jar of cheap spaghetti sauce into pot. Add sugar and parmesan to the sauce and let cook on low. Move onions and mushrooms when done over to the pot of sauce *Do not drain the skillet!* Brown all of the meat together, seasoning the MEAT heavily and add to the sauce when browned. This can be served immediately or left on simmer heat all day, just stirring occasionally. Great for crockpots, too!

CLASSIC SMASHED CHEESEBURGER

Classic Smashed Cheeseburger image

We've got the secret to cooking a burger that's crispy on the outside, yet juicy on the inside: Freeze the patties for 15 minutes before cooking, then use two large griddle spatulas to smash them flat against the hottest skillet possible. Freezing the meat prevents it from cooking too quickly in the middle, which gives you time to get that deeply browned crust.

Provided by Rhoda Boone

Categories Sandwich Beef Kid-Friendly Dinner Lunch Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Small Plates Hamburger Takeout at Home

Yield Makes 4 burgers

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

3/4 pound freshly ground sirloin
1/4 pound freshly ground brisket (if you can't find brisket, substitute ground chuck)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more if needed
4 potato rolls, preferably Martin's brand
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 slices American cheese
Four 1/4-inch-thick tomato slices
4 burger-sized pieces green-leaf lettuce
Epicurious Not-So-Secret Sauce
Special Equipment:
2 large griddle spatulas

Steps:

In a large bowl, use your hands to gently combine ground sirloin and brisket. Divide into four equal-sized, loosely meat pucks about 2 1/2 inches thick. Place patties on a plate lined with plastic wrap or parchment; transfer to the freezer for 15 minutes (do not exceed this amount of time).
Meanwhile, heat a griddle, large cast-iron skillet, or large heavy stainless-steel skillet over medium-high heat. Melt 2 tablespoons butter and place the buns, cut-side down, in the pan. Cook until cut sides are golden-brown, about 2 minutes (you may need to do this in two batches, using additional butter if needed). Place toasted buns on four plates, reserving griddle or skillet.
Remove patties from freezer. Increase heat to high and add 2 tablespoons oil to the griddle or skillet; heat until oil begins to smoke. Working one at a time, add a patty to griddle and immediately press one of the spatulas flat on top of the patty. Use the handle of the other to hammer the spatula down, smashing the patty until 1/2 inch thick. (You'll have to hammer harder and longer than you might think.) Press down and slide the spatula to remove it without tearing the patty; generously season patty with salt and pepper. Repeat smashing process with remaining patties.
Flip each patty once the first side is deeply browned and crisp with craggly edges, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes for medium. Season the cooked side generously with salt and pepper, then add a slice of cheese and continue to cook until melted, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes more. Transfer cooked patties to bottom burger buns.
Top burgers with tomatoes and lettuce; spread top buns with Not-So-Secret Sauce and place on top. Serve immediately.