Ingredients: 2 lbs ground chuck, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, Freshly ground black pepper, Spice Mix, recipe follows. 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 4 slices cheese, such as cheddar, American, Saga blue cheese, and Swiss, optional. 6 soft hamburger-style buns, split. 6 slices beefsteak tomatoes, optional. Assorted lettuces and greens, such as iceberg, romaine, or watercress. Assorted mustards, such as whole-grained, Dijon, or French's, optional. Mayonnaise, optional. Ketchup, optional. Directions: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place a roasting rack on a foil-lined baking sheet in the oven. Using your hands, break the meat into small pieces and combine evenly but loosely on a parchment or waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Spread the meat out and season it generously with salt and pepper. If desired, add the spice mix at this time. Divide the meat into 6 portions. Using your BurgerMate, form each portion into a patty. Preheat a large cast iron skillet over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Raise the heat to high and add the oil. Add the patties and cook, turning once, until well-browned, about 2 minutes each side. Using a spatula, transfer the hamburgers to the roasting rack in the oven and continue cooking to desired doneness, 8 to 9 minutes for medium-rare, 10 to 11 minutes for medium, and 13 to 15 minutes for well-done. If you are using the cheese, top the hamburgers during their last couple of minutes of cooking to melt. Transfer the hamburgers to a plate, let rest for a couple minutes before serving. Meanwhile, toast the hamburger buns. Assemble the hamburgers with the condiments and toppings of your choice. Serve. Timing for a Counter Spice Mix: 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons onion powder, Hot Sauce, to taste. Combine all ingredients. |
