OKLAHOMA ONION BURGERS
Homer Davis and his son Ross invented what he called the Depression burger at the Hamburger Inn in El Reno, Okla., as a means to add inexpensive bulk to their burgers. Rather than toasting, the buns are steamed in onion-scented vapor. That the technique - cooking the patties smashed-style with a huge amount of thinly shaved onions and steaming the buns - and restaurant remain popular to this day is a testament to the burgers' deliciousness. If you prefer, you can take the cooking (and the accompanying lingering onion aroma) completely out of the house by heating the skillet or griddle directly over a very hot grill and cooking outdoors (see Tip).
Provided by J. Kenji López-Alt
Categories dinner, sandwiches, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Divide the beef: Line a 13-by-18-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the ground beef into 4 even balls. Working one ball at a time and using your hands, massage the meat until it is cohesive and tacky, about 15 seconds. Next, using clean hands, roll each into a smooth ball. Place the balls on the baking sheet, with 1 ball in the center of each quadrant. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
- Shape the patties: Gently press each ball into a disk-shaped patty about 3 inches wide. Place the patties on a sheet pan or large plate, and season the tops with salt and pepper. Flip the patties, and top each with a large pile of sliced onions - as many as you can balance on top; they should resemble a large haystack. (It is important to not add salt to the onions at this point, as it will draw out excess moisture, which will inhibit searing.)
- Heat the skillet or griddle: Heat a large (12-inch) cast-iron or carbon-steel skillet or griddle (see Tips) over an indoor burner set to high heat or on the grates of a hot outdoor grill for a few minutes until very hot; a drop of water should skitter around the surface. (If you don't have a pan skillet or griddle big enough, you can cook the burgers in batches.) Place 1 patty of beef in the center of one quadrant of the pan, with the onions on top (do not add any oil).
- Smash the burgers: Using a very stiff spatula, press on the onions and beef to form a patty 4½- to 5-inches wide. As you smash, focus on the patty's edges so that the finished patty is slightly thicker in the center and smashed out as thinly as possible along the edges. Repeat with the remaining patties. Use the spatula to place any stray onions back on top of the burgers. Season the onions lightly with salt and pepper.
- Cook the burgers: Allow patties to cook without moving until the edges are dark brown and crusty, 1 to 2 minutes. Holding the spatula upside down (so that the head of the spatula is angled down to increase leverage), scrape the edges of each patty off the pan, working around each patty to ensure that you don't leave any crispy edges behind. When the edges have all been loosened, turn the spatula back over (so you are holding it the standard way) and flip the patties onion side down. Use the spatula and tongs or a fork to tuck any stray onion slices mostly under the patties.
- Steam the cheese and buns: Add a slice of cheese to each patty. Place the top half of each burger bun on top of the cheese, and place the bottom half of each bun on top of the top bun, split-side down. Cover the pan or griddle with a large domed lid, a large overturned saucepan or a clean folded dish towel. (To avoid a fire, make sure the edges of the dish towel do not hang over the skillet or griddle. If cooking on an outdoor grill, just close the lid.) Continue cooking until the onions are browned along the edges and the buns are steamed through, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
- To serve, open the cover or lid. Remove the bottom burger bun halves to a serving platter. Add pickles and condiments as desired. (These burgers don't typically need condiments.) Lift each burger from the skillet with the spatula and transfer to the bottom bun. Serve immediately.
FRIED ONION BURGER
This burger was born in Oklahoma out of Depression-era resourcefulness: In the 1920s, cooks at El Reno's Hamburger Inn used onions to stretch hamburger meat. That location has closed, but you can try a version at other El Reno restaurants like Johnnie's Hamburgers & Coneys, Sid's Diner and Robert's Grill. To make one yourself, smash at least half an onion into each patty.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 25m
Yield 4 fried onion burgers
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 250˚ F. Mix the beef with 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl, then form into 8 balls.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 of the beef balls and slightly flatten with a metal spatula. Place a handful of the sliced onions on each patty (you'll use about a quarter of the onions for 2 patties - it will seem like a lot!) and flatten the beef into 1/4-inch-thick patties, pressing the onions into each burger. Cook until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip the burgers along with the onions and cook until the onions are browned and tender, about 2 more minutes. Flip the burgers again, along with the onions, and top each with a slice of cheese. Cover and continue cooking until the cheese melts, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven until serving.
- Repeat with the remaining beef and onions to make 8 burgers total, adding more vegetable oil to the skillet if needed. Serve 2 burgers on each bun with ketchup, mustard and/or pickles.
FRIED ONION BURGERS WITH DUCK EGG
Steps:
- Place onions in mesh strainer over a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 30 minutes. Transfer onions to clean bowl and squeeze dry. Divide the onions into 4 piles on baking sheet. Roll the burger into 4 balls.
- Flatten the balls over each pile of onions and make sure the onions are smashed into the top. Add butter and oil to a large skillet. Place the burgers onion side down and cook over medium heat for about 8 minutes or until onions are golden and crisp then flip and cook another 2 or 3 minutes.
- Meanwhile spray a skillet with cooking spray and lightly break the yolk and cook until done on bottom then flip and cook 30 more seconds. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Add favorite condiments to buns. Add a slice of cheese to each bottom bun. Top with the burger onion side up then top with egg. Add top bun and serve.
FRIED ONION BURGER
Fried onion burgers will be the hit of the cookout. These smashed burgers are grilled to perfection and topped with grilled onions and cheese. Learn how to make Authentic Oklahoma Fried onion burgers.
Provided by Eating on a Dime
Categories Main Course
Time 17m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Divide the beef into 4 balls that are approximately 4 oz each. Place them in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook them.
- Preheat a griddle or cast iron skillet over medium high heat (approximately 400 degrees F).
- Butter the buns and place them on the griddle (or skillet) for 2 minutes to toast them and then set them aside while you prepare the beef.
- Evenly place the sliced onions into 4 piles on the griddle (or skillet). Place the beef on top of each onion pile. Then top each one with a piece on parchment paper and then firmly press down to smash the beef into a thin patty with either a burger press or a large spatula and then discard the parchment paper. Season with the patties with garlic salt and the pepper.
- Cook the patties for 2-4 minutes until the juices in the beef start to raise to the top and the color starts to change. Then scrape under the patty to get under all the onions and flip the patty. Once flipped, smash down each patty again with the burger press or spatula so that the juices from the patties will drip down into the onions to give them the best flavor. Cook for 1 more minute. Then place a piece of cheese on each of the patties to melt.
- Then it's time to assemble your burgers. Carefully remove the patties from the griddle once the cheese is melted and place them on the buttered buns.
- Then the fried onions burgers are ready to enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 490 kcal, Carbohydrate 20 g, Protein 26 g, Fat 33 g, SaturatedFat 14 g, TransFat 2 g, Cholesterol 109 mg, Sodium 741 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 4 g, UnsaturatedFat 13 g, ServingSize 1 serving
FRENCH ONION BURGERS
I get bored with just the plain burgers. I found this recipe in Taste of Home and had marked it to save. It is a simple yet tasty sounding burger.
Provided by diner524
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 25m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a bowl, combine the onions, Worcestershire sauce, salt and mushrooms if using. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 4 patties.
- Grill, uncovered, over medium heat or broil 4 inches from the heat for 6-9 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Serve on buns with any condiments and toppings of your choice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 367.1, Fat 18.9, SaturatedFat 7.1, Cholesterol 77.1, Sodium 613.1, Carbohydrate 22.1, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 3.1, Protein 25.2
FRENCH ONION BURGERS
"I created French Onion Burgers one day when I needed to stretch a pound of hamburger," recalls Beth Johnson of Dalton, Ohio. "When we have high school boys help with baling hay, this is one of their favorite foods to enjoy after the work is done."
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the mushrooms, onions, Worcestershire sauce and salt. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into four patties. , Grill, uncovered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 6-9 minutes on each side or a until a thermometer reads 160° and juices run clear. Serve on buns with lettuce and tomato.
Nutrition Facts :
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