Burger Plate

Published Oct. 13, 2021

Burger Plate
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
20 minutes
Rating
4(206)
Comments
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Inspired by German Hamburg steak and other patties of the world, including Danish frikadeller, Japanese hambagu and Korean hambak steak, this lunch-counter meal of ground beef is seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, nutmeg and grated onion. The rest is mere assembly, arraying fresh, crunchy accoutrements to accompany the tender burgers: Tomatoes lend juiciness, dill pickles provide zing and sweet raw onions cut through the richness of the meat. Though you could sandwich all of these ingredients between two slices of toasted bread, eating them as a casual plate lunch lets you appreciate each part separately. If you’d like, replace the ground beef with a plant-based ground meat substitute.

Featured in: A Vintage Dish With Modern Appeal

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 1small Vidalia or yellow onion, peeled and trimmed
  • 1pound lean ground beef (90-10) or plant-based ground meat
  • ¼cup panko bread crumbs
  • 4teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 4teaspoons ketchup, plus more for serving
  • 2teaspoons dark brown sugar
  • ¼teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1teaspoon kosher salt (Diamond Crystal) 
  • ½teaspoon black pepper
  • Neutral oil, such as vegetable or canola oil, or light olive oil
  • 4slices American cheese or sharp Cheddar (optional)
  • 1pound Campari, cocktail or other small tomatoes, halved or cut into wedges if large
  • 4dill pickle spears, halved
  • 4thick slices chewy white bread, such as sourdough, toasted and halved
  • Yellow or Dijon mustard, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

865 calories; 38 grams fat; 13 grams saturated fat; 1 gram trans fat; 16 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 89 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 14 grams sugars; 41 grams protein; 1613 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Using a Microplane or other fine grater, finely grate about 1 tablespoon of the onion from the root end into a large bowl and set aside. Slice the remainder of the onion crosswise into ½-inch-thick rings, add to a separate small bowl and fill with cold tap water. Soak the onion rings in the refrigerator to mellow out.

  2. Step 2

    To the bowl with the grated onion, add the ground beef, panko, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, brown sugar and nutmeg. Season with the salt and pepper. Form the beef into 4 patties (about 1-inch thick).

  3. Step 3

    Heat a large skillet over medium. Add enough oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan and wait until it’s shimmery. Carefully add the patties to the pan and cook until browned and caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

  4. Step 4

    Remove the pan from the heat, top each patty with a slice of cheese and cover the pan until the cheese is melted and the hamburgers are no longer pink on the insides, 1 to 2 minutes.

  5. Step 5

    To serve, evenly divide the cheese-topped patties, the tomatoes, pickles and bread among 4 plates. Drain the onions and add to the plates, along with a squirt each of ketchup and mustard. Eat with a knife and fork or, if you’d like, sandwiched between the bread.

Ratings

4 out of 5
206 user ratings
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Comments

Oh -so it's kind of like a hamburger that you don't assemble. Thanks for the recipe - genius!

I would swap the cheddar for American cheese. American cheese, while not what I'd want to eat on a charcuterie plate, is the ideal cheese for a cheeseburger for its taste (on the burger), mouthfeel, and meltiness. Just look at the cheddar in that otherwise nice photo- just like in real life, it's sweaty and oily and congealed, rather than smooth and melted.

I love this recipe. I actually do a nice version called the “cheeseburger salad” where i prep everything just like this then assemble it nice and high on a cutting board (without bread) and then cut it four times sideways (like a pizza). The result is a big mess of full-yum bite size forkfulls that are hi protein, lo carb, and pure heaven. Oh boy, lunch is served!

I love this recipe. More depth than a regular burger and the deconstructed plate works for me.

A hamburger without green chile ……. Is just sad! Viva New Mexico!

This is how I make my burgers no matter the presentation - for 1lb beef I also add an egg - juicy, tasty and always a hit with friends and family

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