Our Cookbook

American

Smash burgers

Homemade beef patties, keeping it simple.

  • Yield4 burgers
  • Prep20m
  • Cook20m
  • Effortweeknight

Patties

  • 800g beef mince (20%+ fat)
  • salt and pepper, generously
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 3 onions, finely diced
  • 4 slices cheese (Stilton, Kraft slices) optional

To assemble

  • 4 brioche burger buns, lightly toasted
    Quick Brioche Bun Recipe 8 buns

    Ingredients

    Buns

    • 230ml warm water
    • 60ml warm whole milk
    • 7g instant yeast
    • 25g granulated sugar
    • 7g salt
    • 1 egg
    • 250g plain flour
    • 220g white whole wheat flour
    • 25g unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces

    Egg wash

    • 1 egg
    • 1 tbsp milk

    Method

    1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
    2. Combine the warm water, warm milk, yeast and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir gently to combine. Let stand for 5 minutes.
    3. Add the salt and egg to the bowl. Use the paddle attachment to combine on low speed.
    4. Add both flours and mix on low speed until combined, then mix in the butter pieces.
    5. Switch to the dough hook and knead for 8 minutes. The dough will be very soft and slightly sticky.
    6. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and knead a few times with your hands to form it into a ball. Cut the dough into 8 pieces. Shape each piece into a round ball and place on the prepared baking sheet.
    7. Loosely cover the dough balls with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 15 minutes.
    8. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 200℃.
    9. Combine the egg and 1 tablespoon milk in a small bowl, stirring with a fork. Remove the towel and brush the tops of the buns with the egg wash. Bake hamburger buns in the oven for 13-15 minutes, until tops are golden.
    Full recipe
  • lettuce
  • tomato, sliced
  • pickles, sliced
  • mayonnaise

Method

  1. Divide the mince into 8 and shape into balls about 5cm wide, handling them lightly. Season both sides generously.
  2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a heavy pan over a high heat and fry the onions until wilted and caramelised; season and set aside.
  3. Heat the remaining oil until smoking. Add the patties, flatten them with a heavy press, and cook for 2 minutes undisturbed until a deep crust forms. Flip, cook 1 minute, top with cheese if using, cover and cook 1 more minute until melted.
  4. Spread mayonnaise on the toasted bun bases, then layer lettuce, tomato, two patties, onions and pickles.

Notes

Buns: use the cookbook’s quick or slow brioche burger buns.

Sub-recipes

Quick Brioche Bun Recipe

8 buns

Method

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  2. Combine the warm water, warm milk, yeast and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir gently to combine. Let stand for 5 minutes.
  3. Add the salt and egg to the bowl. Use the paddle attachment to combine on low speed.
  4. Add both flours and mix on low speed until combined, then mix in the butter pieces.
  5. Switch to the dough hook and knead for 8 minutes. The dough will be very soft and slightly sticky.
  6. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and knead a few times with your hands to form it into a ball. Cut the dough into 8 pieces. Shape each piece into a round ball and place on the prepared baking sheet.
  7. Loosely cover the dough balls with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 15 minutes.
  8. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 200℃.
  9. Combine the egg and 1 tablespoon milk in a small bowl, stirring with a fork. Remove the towel and brush the tops of the buns with the egg wash. Bake hamburger buns in the oven for 13-15 minutes, until tops are golden.