Smashed Burgers

Ingredients

• 750 gram minced meat (with 15%-20% fat) - لحم مفروم
• 1 teaspoon olive oil - زيت زيتون
• salt and pepper - ملح و فلفل
• 10 slice cheddar cheese (or burger cheese) - جبن شيدر
• 5 medium burger buns - خبز همبرجر
• lettuce (to taste) - خس
• tomatoes (sliced to taste) - طماطم
• onions (sliced to taste) - بصل
• gherkin pickles (or any pickled cucumbers - to taste) - خيار مخلل
• FOR THE BURGER SAUCE: - صوص البرجر
• 3 tablespoon ketchup - كاتشب
• 3 tablespoon mayonnaise - مايونيز
• 1 teaspoon mustard - مسطردة
• 1/2 tablespoon gherkin pickles (finely chopped + 1 tbsp gherkin water from jar) - خيار مخلل
• 1 teaspoon onion (finely chopped) - بصلة

Step by step

1. Use your hands to shape the minced beef into loose 75g balls each. You can cover the kitchen scale with a parchment paper and weigh the balls as you shape them. For 750g beef, you will have 10 balls for 5 burgers.
2. Mix the burger sauce ingredients in a bowl. Slice lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and gherkins for the sandwiches. Set aside.
3. Heat a large frying pan (preferably with a thick base) for a few minutes until very hot. Add olive oil and move the pan to spread it all over.
4. Place 2 beef balls on the hot pan leaving enough space between them. Quickly cover the first ball with a small squared piece of parchment paper and use a small heavy pan to smash the burger flat. Repeat with the second beef ball. Season burger patties with salt and pepper.
5. Cook for about 2 minutes, then use a stainless steel turner (المقصوصة المربعة العريضة) to flip the burgers, making sure to release all the crispy burger layer from the pan as you flip.
6. Place a slice of cheese over each burger while it cooks on the other side. Meanwhile toast the inside of the bun by placing it (inside side down) on another hot pan.
7. Spread the bun with burger sauce, add the 2 smashed patties over the bun, then finish the burger with slices of tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and gherkins to your liking.