30 January 2012

A side of onion rings with your burger? Yes Please



Summer seems not quite ready to make an ongoing appearance this year, we have had little snippets but she just does not seem to want to hang around for any length of time.  Strange weather indeed.  The intermittent summer, however does not put a stop to firing up the BBQ.


Post holidays full of good food, good wine and most importantly good company it is time for a little healthier living, a little less of the indulgence, a little less of the vino.  4 weeks on the wagon is underway.  However that doesn't need to mean a diet of rabbit food, in fact on that I wouldn't last more than a couple of days, if that.




A sudden craving for burger and onion rings and I think I have found a solution that sacrifices none of the flavor and could actually be considered quite healthy at best and certainly not over indulgent. So a result on both counts.  The burgers take only a few minutes to mix together, throw together a bit of a DIY burger bar and you can feed a crowd and let them all make up there own burgers with whatever trimmings and relishes they want.


Homemade Beef Burgers


Makes 8 smallish burgers....so it will serve 4 - 8!  One being enough for me, but for growing boys 2 may well be in order.


Ingredients


1kg (2.2lbs) beef mince
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
Pinch of cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper


To serve place fresh rolls, baby cos leaves, sliced tomato, sliced cucumber, cheese, beetroot (a Kiwi essential), relish, mustard, mayo and of course ketchup on a platter and let everyone make up their own burger.




Directions


Place the mince, garlic, tomato paste, tomato ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, cumin, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix together.  The easiest way is to get stuck in with your hands to ensure that is all mixed well together.  Shape in to 8 patties.  To ensure 8 even sized burgers use a 1/2 cup measure and then shape in to a burger.  Fire up the BBQ or a griddle to a medium high heat and cook for 4 -5 minutes each side until cooked through or  a little less if you like your burgers on the rarer side of done.


To serve place fresh rolls, baby cos leaves, sliced tomato, sliced cucumber, cheese, beetroot (a Kiwi essential), relish, mustard, mayo and of course ketchup on a platter and let everyone make up their own burger.


And if you would like a side of onion rings with that try these....






Oven Baked Herby Onion Rings, inspired by these onion rings over at Not Without Salt


So you want onion rings but really can't be bothered with all the kerfuffle of deep frying then I can only highly recommend these.


Ingredients


1 large onion, cut in to 1cm (1/2 inch) rings
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch cayenne
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups breadcrumbs
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
Pinch chilli flakes
Salt and pepper




Directions


Pre heat oven to 200C/390F


In a medium bowl mix together 1/4 cup of flour, cayenne, salt and pepper and set aside. Next up for the production line; in another medium bowl add the buttermilk, egg, 1/4 cup flour, salt and pepper and whisk together until you have a smooth batter, slightly thicker than double cream.  Add a little more flour if need be.  


In a third bowl place the breadcrumbs, parsley, chilli, salt and pepper and mix to combine.  You now have your production line all ready to go.




Dip each onion ring in to the seasoned flour and then in to the buttermilk batter.  Give a gentle little shake to remove any excess batter and then coat in the bread crumbs.  Do this for all the onion rings and place on a baking tray lined with parchment or some of this amazing magic paper. (Seriously they really are magic....and ways like a dream leaving no baking trays to wash up...need I say more??)




Drizzle with just a little rice bran (or vegetable oil) and pop in to the oven for 20 minutes.  Check them after 10 and turn them over.  Remove from the oven, scatter with a good sprinkling of sea salt and serve alongside the DIY burger bar.


My new photographic assistant


Juicy burgers bursting with flavor, fresh crunch from a little salad, earthy sweetness from the beetroot, a little cheese, ketchup, mayo and mustard for me and one tasty little burger.  The onion rings on the side all the crunch of their deep friend counterparts and even better a little heat from the pinch of chilli wrapped around the sweet onion.




Perfect for summer or even our not so summery summer.


And the beautiful new fabric...that would be from Gorgi NZ and you can check out out all their lovely things here.




If you like this you might like this Grilled Vegetables with Lemon Cumin Yoghurt and Dukkah
One year ago Herb Soup




Enjoy!


18 comments:

  1. I'm a great fan of making your own burgers - it's easy and they taste MUCH better than those supermarket patties! Now those onion rings look very interesting. I will have to try with my next burger bun.

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    Replies
    1. So much better than the supermarket & very happy to have found some healthier onion rings :)

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  2. Burgers, mmm. With onions rings even better. These sound delicious and perfect after all that rich indulgence over the festive period.

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    1. Thanks Julie, that's what I like about it felt bad but was actually good...and a little good need post holidays!

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  3. Smiling at your new photographic assistant ;))
    Summer is in and out here too, but your tasty burgers and crispy onion rings make forget it all !

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    Replies
    1. Ha ha....the new assistant cute but not so helpful ;)

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  4. Oh yeah - nothing quite like a homemake burger on a warm summer evening, beetroot being an absolute essential.

    Shame you're not having much of a summer up there - got to say, we have nothing to complain about down here in Nelson - sunshine capital of NZ :-)

    Sue xo

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    Replies
    1. Being from Scotland I just remember back to the UK....so I really shouldn't complain :) Just happy to hear some of us are getting a full on Summer!

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  5. Enjoyed the burgers and the onion rings while in NZ. Unfortunately we do not have barbeque weather in Scotland as the temperature is minus five !!

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    1. Thanks Mum! Hope the temperatures are rising a little over your way :)

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  6. i love burgers... and today is the perfect day to have one!

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  7. Mmm, your photos are making me hungry! There's nothing like a homemade burger on the barbecue. We'll have to wait awhile to do that here, though. The onion rings, on the other hand...I'm going to make these quite soon. I hope summer decides to stick around more for you!

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    1. Thanks Hannah, hope you enjoyed the onion rings ;)

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  8. Those onion rings look delicious! And would no doubt be much better than any fast food joint ;) What do you think could be used as a substitute for the buttermilk? I really enjoy your blog and the way you present your food :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by & so sorry not to reply sooner...you wound up in the spam folder!! Instead of buttermilk...maybe yoghurt, even milk might work...it is really just there to provide the glue.

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  9. Enjoyed the burgers but the onion rings were even better

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