James Beard's Favorite Hamburger

Recipe courtesy Beard on Food, Running Press, 2000

Show: Sara's SecretsEpisode: Burger Basics

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (15)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(15)

Cook Time:
--
Level:
Easy
Yield:
about 4 hamburgers

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Ingredients

2 pounds chopped beef chuck or round
1 onion
1 tablespoon heavy cream
Freshly ground black pepper
Unsalted butter
Vegetable oil, as needed
Kosher salt, to taste

Directions

Spread the meat out on a board and grate 2 to 3 tablespoons of onion into it—use a fairly fine grater so you get just the juice and very finely grated raw onion. Now mix in about a tablespoon of heavy cream and some freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Form into patties--a 6 to 8-ounce patty for an average serving.

Using a black iron skillet or your best copper one or your pet aluminum frying pan, Teflon-coated or not (with a Teflon coating you won't need much fat, just a little bit for flavor), and cook the hamburgers in the butter and oil over fairly high heat, giving it 4 to 5 minutes a side, depending on how well done you like it. Salt this creamy, oniony, peppery hamburger before serving it on a buttered bun or English muffin, or as a main course with sliced tomatoes and onions or some home-fried potatoes.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe James Beard's Favorite Hamburger
Chris Renton, WA 04-19-2009
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A True Classic
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

If you've been searching for that "quintessential" burger taste, look no further. This is a true classic in terms of taste,... texture and simple, straightforward cooking. Great for year around cooking but grills beautifully too! Looking forward to summer already...Read more
recipe James Beard's Favorite Hamburger
Suzanne Murrayville, GA 09-29-2008
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best burger ever!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is the moistest, most flavorful burger I have ever eaten. I will never make a burger any other way!
recipe James Beard's Favorite Hamburger
Trinh Reston, VA 09-03-2008
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Moist, Flavor and Simple!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I love this recipe! It's definitely one I'll keep for years. The burgers were very flavorful and amazingly moist. Best of... all, the recipe was simple! I used to shy away from making burgers because numerous times in the past when I made burgers they would turn out dry and overcooked. Now I'll be making my own burgers from now on instead of the tasteless store burgers!Read more
recipe James Beard's Favorite Hamburger
Anonymous 07-15-2008
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Great Grill Burger
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Though the recipe calls for cooking in a skillet, I made it for outdoor grilling. I used the entire grated onion (rather... than the 2-3 Tbs mentioned in the directions). Even cooked to well, the meat remained extremely moist and juicy. One of my dinner guests doesn't like onions. She never knew they were there, just commented how great they tasted.Read more
recipe James Beard's Favorite Hamburger
Margo San Francisco, CA 06-22-2008
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Perfect Burger
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

These burgers were awesome. The grated onions just blend into the meat, and the cream adds just the right richness. I... served mine on a brioche bun, which really brought out the buttery taste of the meat. If you don't have cream around, but you have creme fraiche, do not hesitate to substitute.Read more
recipe James Beard's Favorite Hamburger
Jocelyn Dallas, TX 10-30-2007
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Great!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Easy recipe with excellent results. I kept to the suggested time allotted for medium rare using a cast iron skillet, and it... was right on target.Read more