Memorable Hamburgers

It is barbecue season and you know you will be eating your fill of hamburgers over the next few months. So what will you serve at your next BBQ? Hamburgers are so easy to serve, but how will you make your hamburgers memorable? - with the right toppings, that is how. Give your guest some choice of toppings, serve a few burgers with your toppings already on them to give your guest some ideas, and have a variety of topping available.

I remember the first time I served sautéed peppers, onions and mushrooms with provolone cheese on my burgers and was told they were the best BBQ burgers my guest had ever had! And I thought, “I have to do that every time.” So here are a few of my favorite burgers.

Start with some premade hamburgers; I feel fresh beats frozen. I like to make my own patties so I can use 80% lean hamburg which has more fat than 85% lean hamburg and so I think it tastes better. I also like to make my burgers at least 1/3 of a pound each. But the secret here is the toppings, so for a crowd, premade is easier and will be just as tasty with these toppings.

Top with a variety of cheeses and condiments. Always have the ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard and relish available, but when you serve, prepare a few burgers this way and make these toppings available also. If you serve a few already prepared, you give your guests some ideas they may not think of on their own.

WHAT TO SERVE – HOW TO SERVE:

Prepare the cook with a variety of cheeses and be sure to make a few without cheese.

American Burger: American cheese, sliced tomato, sliced, raw, red onion, sliced pickles and lettuce.

Italian Burger: Provolone cheese, sautéed peppers, onions and mushrooms*

Mex Burger: Sliced Colby Jack cheese and salsa.

*(Yes I eat a lot of sautéed peppers and onions.) Cut peppers and onions into strips. Wash and slice mushrooms. Put peppers, onions and mushrooms in a skillet and sauté on high until they are a little, browned AND there is a little burnt on the bottom of pan. Stir frequently. This flavors the pan. Then turn down to medium - medium low and let them brown but not burn. Season with salt and pepper.

Continue to cook and stir frequently for a total of a half hour of cooking, or until they reach your desired tenderness. If they start sticking to the pan and burning, you can add a little olive oil, or just turn down the heat even more and let the peppers,  onions and mushrooms cool a little – this will bring out the water in them and stop them from sticking  – and then turn the heat back on and continue
to cook. You can prepare these a day in advance and then just microwave before serving.

See if these ideas change how your guests feel about having hamburgers at yet another BBQ.