Portillos Double Cheeseburger Copycat Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Render the beef fat by chopping it into small bits (about the size of peas) with a food processor. Be sure the fat is very cold--it will chop better. If you don't have a food processor, you can chop the fat by hand. Use a sharp knife and cut it as small as you can. Heat up the fat in a sauté pan over medium heat until the bits are browned. Strain the solids from the fat and measure 1/4 cup of fat for the gravy.
• Make the beef gravy by combining all of the ingredients, including the beef fat, in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When the mixture begins to boil reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, then turn the heat to low.
• Make the sandwiches by heating up the rolls in the hot oven for 3 minutes.
• For each sandwich, drop 1/4 pound of sliced beef (separate the slices) into the gravy for 2 minutes. Make sure the gravy isn't boiling. It should be around 180 degrees F. After the beef has soaked in the gravy, use tongs to arrange the beef on a warmed sandwich roll and top with your choice of hot giardiniera or sweet peppers. Or both. Spoon on some extra gravy just before serving.

Steps:

• separate the meat into two 1/3 lb portions and roll them into balls. Place one ball between two sheets of wax paper and press with a medium pot until the patty is about 1/4 inch thick (it should be about 6-7 inches in diameter. Repeat for the second patty.
• Preheat the grill and gently place the patties on the grill. Set to low and cover. This should only take about 2-3 minutes on one side and 2 on the other. Each grill is different so keep your eye on it.
• Meanwhile coat each side of the kaiser bun lightly with butter and warm it on the stovetop or in a cool part of the grill just until the inside begins to crisp up.
• Coat each side of the bun with half the mayo and half the ketchup. When the meat is cooked, layer the burger like this: Bottom bun, one slice, american cheese, first patty, second slice of american cheese, second patty, lettuce leaf, 4 large pickle chips, one slice of tomato (or two if the tomato doesn't cover the whole burger), one slice of red onion, top bun.

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and season with 3/4 teaspoon salt; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and soft, about 30 minutes. (Reduce the heat to low if the onions are browning too quickly.) Uncover, increase the heat to medium high and continue to cook, stirring often, until caramelized, about 8 more minutes. Add 1/2 cup water, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer, stirring, until the water evaporates, about 2 minutes; transfer the onions to a bowl and set aside.
• Mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, relish and vinegar in a small bowl; set aside. Form the beef into 8 patties, about 4 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick.
• Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat; lightly brush with vegetable oil. Toast the buns cut-side down on the griddle. Spread each bun bottom with about 1 tablespoon of the mayonnaise mixture, then top with a few pickles, 1 or 2 tomato slices, some lettuce and another dollop of the mayonnaise mixture; set aside. (Keep the griddle hot.)
• Season both sides of the patties with salt and pepper. Working in batches, transfer the patties to the griddle and cook 3 minutes. Spread about 1 1/2teaspoons mustard on top of each patty, then flip and cover with 1 cheese slice; cook 2 more minutes for medium. Top 4 of the patties with the caramelized onions, then cover with the remaining patties cheese-side up. Transfer the double patties to the bun bottoms; cover with the bun tops.