The Ultimate Burger

Yield: 4 servings.

Ingredients

  • Burger
  • 1 pound ground beef from sirloin
  • 1 large egg
  • Coarse salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
  • ¼ cup fresh breadcrumbs
  • 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tbsp. tomato juice
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • Handful of mint, finely chopped
  • Handful parsley, finely chopped
  • Grape seed oil, for pan or grill
  • Assembly
    • 4 medium Greek-style pitas
    • 2 red peppers roasted or grilled, sliced
    • ¼ cup tzaztiki sauce
    • 4 leaves of Boston bibb lettuce
    • 1 large onion, sliced and sautéed
    • 4 large toothpicks

Method

  1. Combine ground beef in a large bowl. Add egg, salt and pepper, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, tomato juice, green onions, mint and parsley. With your hands, blend the ingredients together. Form into 4 oval patties, about ½-inch thick.
  2. Heat a grill on medium high. Cook the burgers until charred on the outside and just cooked through to the centre, about 6 to 7 minutes per side.
  3. Alternatively, cook burgers in a cast iron pan. Heat cast fry pan over medium heat. Add oil to pan. Sear burgers on each side for 2 minutes. Finish in preheated 400 degree F. oven, until burger is thoroughly cooked about 5 to 10 minutes. Make sure burger is thoroughly cooked, that is, there should be no red meat or pink in the burger.  
  4. Assembly
    1. Toast pita on grill if desired or warm in oven.
    2. Serve the burgers on pita bread. Top with your favourite toppings and condiments. Fold pita and secure with large toothpick. Try Boston bibb lettuce, roasted red pepper, sautéed onions and tzatziki.