Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Classics: The Diner Cheeseburger

College students spend an exorbitant amount of time trying to study in just about any location, and diners are an obvious choice, because of long operating hours and cheap (rarely good) food--they are known as "greasy spoons" for good reason. No doubt some diners make the best fries and burgers--something about them, right? (see below)




Problem is: the food at most diners is frequently cheap cuts, poorly made, re-heated frozen food, and high in fat and calories, all while you are sitting there for hours on end!  Don't waste your precious college funds! Get the bad bottomless coffee, but save your cash--you can make most any diner food at home--usually at a fraction of the cost, but with twice the flavor, and often with leftovers for the next day! Especially, those simple, thin, seared cheeseburgers!


Postpone any urge to order food if you are close to going home!
Instead, use your precious college dollars to buy quality ingredients on your way home, i.e. lean beef, humanely raised--less fat, more flavor, better all around for you and the environment. And with the classic, thin "diner-style" cheeseburgers, one pound will give you roughly 5 patties--so, why not invite some friends over while you are at it!



One of the best executions of this concept I experienced at Gott's Roadside Diner in Napa, California. If you are going to indulge in red meat once in a while...do it in style with the best...make it totally worth it! Expect no less!

Classics: The Diner Cheeseburger Make Your Own

Equipment:
Rolling pin or large bottomed bowl
Seran wrap
Non-stick skillet / griddle
Spatula to create pressure

Ingredients:
100% Humanely Raised, Organic Ground Sirloin, 90% Lean
American Cheese
Lettuce
Onions
Pickles
Mayo
Ketchup
Mustard
Sesame Buns, toasted with a dusting of butter
1 tsp butter
Drizzle of olive oil



Instructions:
1. Wash your hands.
2. Prep your condiments.
3. Equally divide meat into roughly 4-5 patties and lay between seran wrap.





4. Use a large-bottom bowl or rolling pin to flatten to 1/4" inch thick. Salt & Pepper!






5. Heat your skillet on MED-HIGH with a drizzle of olive oil and 1 tsp butter.



6. Make sure all patties have room in the skillet. 



7. Use a spatula / flipper to create pressure on the patties while you sear the meat, approx 1-2 minutes until carmelized.




8. Flip the burger and brown another 1-2 minutes. Turn the heat off.
9. Add your cheese.



10. Build a better burger!
--toasted, lightly buttered bun
--condiments
--the works as you might like it







Awesomely simple and better!

No comments:

Post a Comment