Mexico City Style Burgers Recipes

Steps:

• Heat a gas or charcoal grill to high. Brush the grill grates with oil.
• For the coleslaw: Combine the carrot, cabbage, onion, vinegar, mayonnaise, oil and sugar in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the slaw sit at least 15 minutes before serving.
• For the spice rub: Whisk together the ancho chile powder, paprika, coriander, cumin, mustard powder, oregano, cayenne and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl.
• For the burgers: Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Shape each portion with your hands into a round patty, about 3/4 inches thick. Use your thumb to make a divot in the center of each burger. Sprinkle both sides of each burger with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the spice rub on one side of the burgers then brush with oil. Grill, spice rub-side down first, covered, until golden brown and slightly charred, about 4 minutes per side for medium.
• While the burgers cook, toast the buns on the grill until lightly charred, 10 to 15 seconds. Set aside.
• Add 2 slices of cheese to the tops of each burger. Cover the burgers with the grill lid, large domed lid or large metal bowl and count to 10 until the cheese is melted.
• Place the burgers on the bottom buns and spoon about 2 tablespoons of the BBQ sauce on each. Top with the sliced pickled jalapenos, some of the coleslaw and the top buns and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Heat a gas or charcoal grill to high heat. Brush the grill grates with oil.
• For the pickled red onions: Bring the vinegar, 1/4 cup water, sugar and salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes. Put the onions in a medium bowl, pour the vinegar over, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 48 hours before serving.
• For the pickled jalapeno relish: Combine the jalapenos, pickles, cilantro, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl. Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before serving.
• For the chipotle ketchup: Stir together the ketchup and adobo sauce in a small bowl. Use right away or cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. The sauce will keep for 1 week in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
• For the burgers: Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Shape each portion with your hands into a round patty, about 3/4 inches thick. Use your thumb to make a divot in the center of each burger. Sprinkle both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.
• Grill, covered, until golden brown and slightly charred on the first side, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the burgers and cook until golden brown and slightly charred on the second side, about 4 minutes for medium.
• While the burgers cook, toast the buns on the grill until lightly charred, 10 to 15 seconds. Set aside.
• Add 2 slices of cheese to the tops of each burger. Cover the burgers with the grill lid, large domed lid or large metal bowl and count to 10 until the cheese is melted.
• Place the burgers on the bottom buns. Top with the chipotle ketchup, pickled jalapeno relish, pickled red onions, avocado and the top buns and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the caramelized onions: Heat the oil in a large cast-iron pan over medium heat, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and caramelized, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste, add the garlic and thyme and continue to cook for 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Reserve the cast-iron pan.
• For the beef broth: Combine the beef broth, thyme and some salt and pepper in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the broth is warmed through and begins to take on the thyme flavor, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the thyme and season with more salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a bowl and top with more thyme leaves. Keep warm.
• For the burgers: Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Shape each portion with your hands into a rectangular patty to match the shape of the hoagie rolls, about 3/4 inches thick. Sprinkle both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.
• Place the hoagie rolls cut-side up on a baking sheet, brush the cut sides with some canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toast in the oven until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Heat the same cast-iron pan over high heat. Add the canola oil and let heat until it begins to shimmer. Put the burgers in the pan and cook, flipping once, until golden brown on both sides and cooked to medium doneness, about 8 minutes total.
• Top each burger with 2 slices of cheese. Carefully add 1/4 cup of water to the pan and immediately cover tightly with a lid. (If using a griddle, do one at a time and use a sandwich dome or stainless-steel bowl to cover.) Count to 10. Lift lid or dome to make sure that the cheese is totally melted (if not, cover again and count 5 seconds longer.)
• Place the burgers on the bottom rolls and top with a large spoonful of the caramelized onions and the top rolls. Serve with the warm beef broth on the side for dipping.

Steps:

• Add oil or butter to a large cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet and place over medium heat. Gently divide ground beef into 4 small piles of around 8 ounces each, and then lightly form these into thick patties of around 3 1/2 inches in diameter, like flattened meatballs. Season aggressively with salt and pepper.
• Increase heat under skillet to high. Put hamburgers into the skillet with plenty of distance between them and allow them to cook, without moving, for approximately 3 minutes. Use a spatula to turn hamburgers over. If using cheese, lay slices on meat.
• Continue to cook until meat is cooked through, approximately another 3 to 4 minutes for medium-rare. Remove hamburgers from skillet and allow to rest for approximately 5 minutes; meanwhile, toast the buns. Place hamburgers on buns and top as desired.

Steps:

• Make the salsa verde: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Lay out the tomatillos, red onion and jalapeno on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, then roast until slightly charred and softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Transfer to a food processor and puree until smooth. Add the cilantro and lime juice, season with salt and continue to puree until smooth. For a thicker salsa, pour into a cheesecloth-lined strainer and let drain.
• Make the burgers: Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium high. Form the chorizo into 4 balls, then flatten with your palm. Season them with salt.
• Oil the grill grates. Place the patties on the grill and press with a spatula to form thinner patties. Cook, without moving, until a good crust forms on the bottom, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Flip and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium low and top each burger with a slice of cheese; cover and let the cheese melt, about 1 minute. Remove the burgers and place on the toasted buns with the salsa verde, avocado, red onion and some piquillo peppers.

Steps:

• Heat a griddle or large cast-iron pan over high heat. Add the canola oil and let heat until it begins to shimmer.
• Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Shape each portion with your hands into a round patty, about 1 1/2 inches thick. Use your thumb to make a divot in the center of each burger. Sprinkle both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.
• Put the burgers on the griddle or in the pan, divot-side up. Cook the burgers, flipping once, until golden brown on both sides and cooked to medium doneness, about 8 minutes total.
• While the burgers cook, combine the tomato sauce, Calabrian chiles, basil and some salt and pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until warm, 4 to 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and set aside.
• Top each burger with 2 slices of the mozzarella. Carefully add 1/4 cup of water to the pan and immediately cover tightly with a lid. (If using a griddle, do one at a time and use a sandwich dome or stainless-steel bowl to cover.) Count to 10. Lift lid or dome to make sure that the cheese is totally melted (if not, cover again and count 5 second longer). Transfer the burgers to a plate and loosely tent with foil.
• Place the burgers on the bottom halves of the focaccia slices. Top with the tomato sauce, arugula, Parmigiano-Reggiano, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and the top focaccia slices and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Heat a gas or charcoal grill to high heat. Brush the grill grates with oil.
• For the fry sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, roasted red pepper puree and adobo sauce in a small bowl and stir together until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Use right away or cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld.
• For the burgers: Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Shape each portion with your hands into a round patty, about 3/4 inches thick. Use your thumb to make a divot in the center of each burger. Sprinkle both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.
• Grill, covered, until golden brown and slightly charred on the first side, about 3 minutes. Flip the burgers and cook until golden brown and slightly charred on the second side, about 4 minutes for medium.
• While the burgers cook, toast the buns on the grill until lightly charred, 10 to 15 seconds. Set aside.
• Add 2 slices of cheese to the tops of each burger. Cover the burgers with the grill lid, large domed lid or large metal bowl and count to 10 until the cheese is melted.
• Spread some yellow mustard on the bottom buns and spread some of the fry sauce on the top buns. Place the burgers on the bottom buns. Top with the shredded lettuce and the top buns and serve immediately.