The Startup Cook - Homemade Burgers!
It has come to my recent attention that the country’s most popular international burger chain has increased their prices. Now let me remind you that these burgers were never cheap in the first place and with the latest price hike it is indeed becoming a very exclusive non gourmet indulgence.
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As a timely solution to this swindling situation, I resort to homemade burgers.
This recipe was generously donated by my friend Thirsha who has always preferred home cooking instead of ‘fast food’. After having savoured her version of a burger, I could not help but agree with her. It’s a very simple process that consumes only a negligible amount of your time and is favourable for the purse. But more importantly it guarantees the end result to be delicious and wholesome at the same time.
Ps – These burgers are several times tastier than what can you buy from a drive-through. And once you go homemade burgers there is no going back!
Ingredients
300g of minced chicken
5 spring onions
3 cloves of garlic
½ tsp of ginger (grated)
2 tbs of (all purpose) flour
1 egg
½ lime
2 tbs of Worcestershire sauce
1 tbs of soy sauce
1 tbs of chilli flakes
1 tsp of cinnamon powder
2 tsp of chilli powder (roasted)
1 tbs of curry powder (roasted)
1 tsp of oregano
1 tsp of sage
Salt
Pepper
Oil
Directions
Wash the minced chicken and place it in a bowl.
Juice the lime over the chicken. Then add the Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, cinnamon powder, chilli powder, curry powder, a teaspoon of pepper and ½ teaspoon of salt and leave it to marinade for at least an hour.
Wash and fine dice the spring onions. Peel and mince the garlic cloves.
Pour ½ tsp of oil in to a sauce pan and place the sauce on a medium high flame.
Add the minced garlic to the pan and fry for few seconds.
Then add the spring onions, ginger and chilli flakes to the pan and sauté.
Once the onions start to caramelise, take it off the heat and let it cool.
Then add the sautéed onions to the marinated meat and stir to combine.
Add the egg, oregano, sage and a table spoon of flour to the mixture, whisk briskly to combine.
Place a grill pan on a medium flame and add a teaspoon of oil to the pan.
(Use the remaining table spoon of flour to coat your palms) Scoop out some meat with your flour coated hands and form it in to a circular patty.
Place the patty on the hot pan and let it cook.
Once the patty has charred well enough, flip it over and grill the uncooked side.
After both sides of the patty have cooked, add a lid over the patty and let it cook for a few minutes.
Once the patty has cooked take it off the heat (and proceed to make burgers).
Repeat the process until all the meat has been utilised and the patties have been made.
Disasters, Warnings and Tips
Honestly homemade burgers are the best! So yummy and flavoursome!
A good marinade is fundamental here.
Whisk using a wooden spoon.
Feel free to increase spices as you see fit.
I am not sure if the same method would work for minced beef.
Serve the burger with some homemade vinegar chips like I did.
When it comes to flipping burgers I am blessed with two left hands.
Closing the patty with a lid is to ensure that the centre gets cooked as well.
You can make four generous chicken patties with these ingredients.
I used olive oil here but you can use vegetable oil as well. But if you have an excellent grill pan you actually don’t need the oil.
For added deliciousness melt the cheese on the patty before placing it in a burger bun.
By Shazzana Hamid
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