Put together after many hours of painstaking minced meat based research, and packed full of mega flavour… this is the ultimate mother-frickin beef burger. That is all.

Music I Cooked to:

Ingredients

• 3 onions
• 3 garlic cloves
• 2lb good quality minced beef
• 100g dried natural breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsp mustard
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• 1 tbsp Sun Dried Tomato paste
• 2 free-range egg
• 100g Brussels pate
• 2 sprigs Thyme – chopped
• handful fresh Chives
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 chopped chilli
• 2 tbsp smoked paprika
• 100ml beef stock
• 250ml red wine
• 1 tsp sugar
• a few shakes Worcestershire sauce
• a few shakes soy sauce
• Cheddar cheese, pickled Jalapeño, fresh Tomato slices and Rocket leaves for garnish.

Preparation Method:

1. Finely dice and chop the onions, chilli, and garlic.
2. Heat a frying pan with a tbsp of vegetable oil.
3. Fry the onion over a medium-high heat until they begin to brown.
4. Add the garlic and chilli and continue to fry for a further 5 mins.
5. Add the red wine and beef stock. Turn down to a medium heat and reduce the mixture for around 15mins.
6. Add the tomato puree, sun dried tomato paste, smoked paprika, mustard and stir in. You should end up with a thick sauce like consistency.
7. Add the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar and finely chopped thyme and chives. Simmer the whole mixture for a further 5 mins.
8. Take the base mixture off the heat and allow to completely cool for around 30-40 mins.
9. Place the base mixture in a large mixing bowl and add the beef mince. Stir well with a wooden spoon before getting stuck in with your hands and giving it a good mix up.
10. Add the eggs, bread crumbs and pate, mixing each ingredient in to the beef mince thoroughly.
11. Season well with salt and pepper.
12. Form the mix into 8 tightly packed patties.
13. Heat a griddle pan on a high heat with a small amount of oil. At the same time pre-heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan.
14. Fry each burger patty for 1 min each side until well browned with griddle lines.
15. Place the patties onto a foil lined baking tray and place into the oven for 22 mins.
16. For the last minute of cooking time place a slice of cheddar cheese onto each patty until melted.
17. Remove from the oven. Set aside for 5 mins.
18. To serve slice a good quality burger bun in half, place a patty in each and top with a slice of tomato, some rocket leaves and a few pickled Jalapeños.