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Fiery cheeseburgers

A really good cheeseburger has to be made from really good beef. If you can ask a butcher to mince some rump, blade or chuck steak for you but make sure it has 20 per cent fat content as this will in effect make them self basting and prevent them from drying out during cooking. Otherwise buy ordinary minced beef from the supermarket, but don’t buy extra-lean mince because the burgers will become as tough as old boots during cooking.

Fiery cheeseburgers

Ingredients

Serves 4
  • 675g (1 1/2lb) minced beef
  • 1 mild red chilli, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 small onion, grated
  • 2 tbsp double cream
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 4 sesame bread rolls or baps, halved
  • 2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
  • 50g (2oz) Cheddar, cut into 4 matchbox shapes
For the lettuce mayonnaise:
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 50g (2oz) iceberg lettuce, finely shredded
  • 25g (1oz) cocktail gherkins, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped onion
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Place the minced beef in a food processor and add the chilli, garlic, onion, double cream and parsley. Season with a half a heaped teaspoon of salt and plenty of pepper, then quickly blitz until the meat starts to hold together. Divide the mixture into four and shape around the cubes of Cheddar into 10cm (4in) flat discs, either by hand or pressing into a metal pastry cutter. Arrange on a flat plate, then cover loosely with clingfilm and chill for at least 1 hour to allow the mixture to firm up.

Preheat the grill or a barbecue with medium-hot coals and cook the burgers for about 5 minutes on each side for medium. Meanwhile, place the mayonnaise in a bowl and mix in the lettuce, gherkins, onion and mustard. Season to taste and mix well to combine.

Lightly toast the cut sides of the rolls under the grill or on the barbecue for 1-2 minutes. Cover the bottom half with a couple of slices of tomato and then sit the burger on top. Add a large spoonful of the lettuce mayonnaise to each one and cover with the top half of the bun. Arrange on warmed plates and serve immediately.