Blue Cheese Smash Burger
Ingredients:
For the smash burgers:
- 1 pound ground beef (80% lean, 20% fat)
- Sliced blue cheese (or crumbled, based on preference)
- Burger buns
For the pickled onions:
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
1. Prepare the pickled onions: - In a small saucepan, combine the apple cider vinegar, water, granulated sugar, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugar and salt dissolve. - Add the thinly sliced red onions to the boiling liquid and turn off the heat. Let the onions sit in the pickling mixture for at least 15-20 minutes. The longer they sit, the tangier and more flavorful they become.
2. Preheat the griddle flat top: - Preheat your griddle flat top over medium-high heat until it's hot and evenly heated.
3. Form the smash burger patties: - Divide the Ground Beef into equal portions, about 1/4 pound each. Roll each portion into a loose ball. - Place a ball of beef onto the hot griddle and flatten it with a sturdy spatula or a burger press to create a thin patty. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Cook the smash burgers: - Cook the patties for about 2-3 minutes until they develop a crust on the bottom. - Flip the patties and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes on the other side, be sure to check your burgers with a meat thermometer to reach 160 degrees F as measured by a meat thermometer. During the last minute of cooking, place a slice of American cheese on top of each patty to melt.
5. Assemble the burgers: - Toast the burger buns on the griddle flat top until they are lightly browned. - Place a patty with melted cheese on the bottom half of each bun. Top the patty with a generous amount of pickled onions and blue cheese crumbles. - Close the burger with the top half of the bun.
6. Serve and enjoy: - Serve the smash burgers with blue cheese and pickled onions immediately while they're warm and the cheese is gooey. Enjoy the flavorful combination of savory beef, tangy pickled onions, and creamy blue cheese in every bite! This recipe yields delicious smash burgers with a delightful twist of blue cheese and pickled onions that's sure to impress your taste buds!