Burgalicious.

I was quite happy with my first attempt at a burger- the meat was juicy and rich in garlic and herbs, with crunchy bread and melted cheese. The only change i would make, I think, would be the extra fillings. For example, to add a sauce with a bit more pop, or another layer of texture. I can always experiment with fillings though- maybe some avocado? Some rocket leaves? Slasa? Crispy bacon or chorizo?
Whatever the extra fillings, I think the actual meat of the burger was a winner here, and I will be repeating it again.



I was lucky enough to receive some aesthetic 'reviews' from my flatmates that I can share with you now:
Jamie's review:
'At first, they didn't look like burgers. But then, when Liz made them in to burgers, they really looked like burgers. 4/5'.

Maria's review:
'They looked like burgers, and they were burgers. 5/5'

 They are very descriptive and helpful, I know.

Ingredients:
For the burgers:

• Two crusty white rolls
• Fresh basil 
• Two carrots, peeled and chopped.
• Two handfulls of minced beef
• Half an onion, chopped finely
• Two garlic cloves, one and a half of which sliced finely- the remaining half ready to be minced.
• One egg
• A generous palm-full of oregano
• Salt and pepper
• Cheddar cheese, sliced thinly

For the chips:

• Two medium white potatoes, cut in to wedges
• 1 tsp corn flour
• olive oil
• salt

Method:

• Boil the potatoes for about 8 minutes so that the outside is cooked and soft, but the inside is still raw.
• Drain and shake them about a bit in the colander to fluff them up around the edges.
• Place the potatoes on a baking tray lines with non-stick foil.
• Sprinkle over a pinch or two of salt and then the corn flour. Make sure they are evenly coated, then do the same with the olive oil.
• Place in the oven at 220c
• While the chips are cooking in the oven, boil the carrots for 15 minutes until soft. Drain and transfer back in to the pan. Blitz the carrots up in to paste with a hand-held liquidizer (or do it in a food processor, it doesn't matter) season with salt, pepper and sugar to taste. Set aside.
• Add the onion and sliced garlic to a frying pan and cook gently until soft and just picking up some colour.
• In a bowl, mix the egg, minced beef, oregano, salt and pepper, onions and garlic, and the extra minced garlic. Squish the mixture together to form two burger shaped balls, and transfer to the frying pan you used to cook the onions.
• Add a tablespoon or so of oil and fry on a medium heat until both sides are nicely browned, and the meat is cooked.
• Transfer the burgers to a baking tray and top with sliced cheese.
• Slice the bread rolls in half and place on the baking tray with the burgers (just don't let them touch)
• Transfer the baking tray to the top shelf of the oven and bake until the cheese has melted, and the bread is crispy.
• Assemble your burger with the meat, carrot pure, basil leaves, and bread rolls.
• Remove the chips from the oven (they should be nice and browned and crispy by now)
• Don't forget any essential sauces such as ketchup or brown sauce :)