Caramelised Onion & Cheddar burgers

This is my husband Blair’s take on the Oklahoma burger, where he cooks beef patties piled high with onions, which has become something of a family weekend tradition. They’re so moreish, and whether we’re outside by the BBQ or inside during winter, they turn mealtime into an interactive feast.

Serves: 6

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooktime: 10 minutes

Ingredients

olive oil

750g beef mince (minimum 20% fat) shaped into 6 patties

salt and pepper

2 medium brown or red onions

very thinly sliced (a mandolin or food processor works well)

6 slices Cheddar

6 brioche burger buns 

sliced in half mustard burger sauce (store-bought or mix 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise 

1/2 cup American-style mustard and 1⁄2 cup tomato sauce)

2 tomatoes 

sliced 1 cup salad greens pickles or jalapeños

Method

1. Heat a large frying pan or BBQ plate over a medium-high heat for a few minutes. When hot, add a good drizzle of the oil.

2. When the oil is hot, working in batches, place 2–3 patties in the pan and smash them with the base of a mug or spatula.

3. Season patties with salt and pepper, then cover generously with onions — press them in slightly with a spatula or base of a mug as you go. It’s fine if you spill a few onions onto the hot pan. Cook for 2 minutes.

4. Carefully flip the burger patties. You want to scrape the pan to get everything and may need to carefully use another spoon or spatula to hold the onions onto each patty as you flip. Once flipped, press down on each patty to push the onions further into the meat.

5. Season the patties again and lay a slice of cheese onto each. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until the cheese is melted, and the onions are cooked.

6. To steam the buns place the top of the bun onto the cheese and patty while still in the pan. Next place the bottom bun upside-down over the top bun to allow it to steam in the onion vapors. About another 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

7. Transfer the steamed burger bun bases to your plates and begin building your burgers.

8. Working quickly, add mustard, burger sauce, tomatoes, salad greens and pickles or jalapeños to the base of the bun.

9. Using a spatula, carefully lift each onion burger patty and top of buns off the pan and place onto the base. Serve immediately

Photo: Gretchen Lowe