Gourmet Burgers (sort of)

These went down a treat last night with the family, and I'm in the mood for another post today. They aren't really gourmet burgers, they're just homemade and healthier than your usual burgers.

I made the burger buns to go with them as well, but I wasn't pleased with how they turned out (they didn't rise very well) so I won't be using that recipe again, and won't bother posting it here. The burgers were yummy though, as were the accompaniments

The Burgers
To make 6 fairly large burgers

• 800g lean beef mince
• 1 onion
• 1 egg yolk
• one slice of bread
• salt and pepper
• small bunch of parsley
• 3 tsp minced garlic (or crushed garlic, maybe 2 cloves? I find the fresh stuff is so much stronger than the minced stuff from a jar)
• 1 tsp Lea and Perrins (Worchester Sauce)

1. In a food processor, turn the bread into breadcrumbs and then add in the onion, parsley, salt and pepper, garlic and lea and perrins- process until finely chopped
2. Add the egg yolk and then the mince- process for a few seconds
3. Tip into a bowl and use your hands to combine all the ingredients
4. Shape into six fairly large burgers, or more if you want them smaller
5. Put in fridge to firm up until ready to cook
6. Place on wire rack above cooking tray lined with tin foil to catch any fat
7. Cook for 20mins at 180C (or you can grill them if you like, but I just shoved them in the oven at the same time as the chips)

The Chips

• One large sweet potato per person (I usually aim for about 6-8 chips per person)
• Salt and Pepper
• Olive oil (how much depends on how many chips)

1. Peel the sweet potato and cut into wedges- long thin shaped potatoes make the best wedges :)
2. In a bowl season with the salt and pepper and toss with oil
3. Cook at 180C for 25 minutes

The Veggies

• 1 medium sized courgette/zucchini
• 1 leek
• 2 tsp garlic
• Fresh spinach (or frozen etc- we grow our own and I just pick it as I need it)
• Butter to fry
• 50g feta cheese
• Pepper

1. Finely chop the zucchini and leek into slices
2. Thoroughly wash the spinach and chop into strips (Tip- I make a pile of leaves with the stalks all at one end, roll it length-ways and chop it into strips that way)
3. Heat the butter in a heavy based frying pan and cook the garlic, zucchini and leeks
4. Add in the spinach and cover until wilted
5. Crumble the feta and cover with pepper; add to the pan and combine with the vegetables
6. Serve under or alongside the burger and chips

The Relish

• 1 Capsicum
• 3 small tomatoes
• 1 tsp garlic
• 1 tsp minced chilli
• 3 tsp Red Pepper paste (or tomato pesto etc- just something to thicken it up)
• 1 tsp Tomato Ketchup

1. Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and serve on top of the burgers

Ta da! Gourmet Burgers. Enjoy!

Helen xx