Name: Smash burgers
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 burger buns sesame topped or brioche, whichever you prefer; 1 tbsp/15ml sunflower oil; 500g/1lb 2oz steak mince 15-20% fat is good; 4 slices mild cheddar or burger cheese; 1 red onion finely sliced; handfuls of iceberg lettuce finely shredded; 2 tomatoes sliced; 1 large gherkin sliced lengthways; mayonnaise ketchup and American mustard, or your preferred sauces, to serve

Ingredients

4 serv.

4 burger buns sesame topped or brioche, whichever you prefer
1 tbsp/15ml sunflower oil
500g/1lb 2oz steak mince 15-20% fat is good
4 slices mild cheddar or burger cheese
1 red onion finely sliced
handfuls of iceberg lettuce finely shredded
2 tomatoes sliced
1 large gherkin sliced lengthways
mayonnaise ketchup and American mustard, or your preferred sauces, to serve

Instructions

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1 Slice the burger buns in half, then toast or grill the cut sides and set aside. Heat the oven to 100C/80C fan/gas ¼.
2 Divide the mince into four loose piles and season generously with salt. Heat ¼ tbsp oil in a heavy frying pan or skillet over a high heat and put one of the piles in the pan. Working quickly, cover with a square of baking parchment and use a second smaller pan to press the beef patty down as hard as you can (you may wear oven gloves or use the end of a rolling pin for pressing down, being careful of the heat and rising steam). Allow to cook for 2 mins.
3 Remove the parchment and turn the patty over. Press down with a spatula, cover with a slice of cheese and cook for 1 min. Transfer to a baking tray and keep warm in the oven while you cook the other burgers in the same way.
4 To assemble the burger, scatter a bun base with onion, lettuce and tomato slices, followed by a smashed patty, gherkin slices and the bun top. Serve with your chosen sauces on the side.