Make this Classic burger with homemade tomato relish and melted cheese.

Ingredients

  • 1 kg minced beef, (ideally rump or chuck steak)
  • 1 red onion (finely chopped)
  • 1 tblsp vegetable oil
  • 1 heaped teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 heaped teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 egg
  • a good handful of parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
  • dollop of dijon mustard
  • 6 fine slices of cheese

for the relish (optional):

  • 200 g tomatoes (chopped)
  • 100 ml white wine
  • 50 g white sugar
  • chopped chilli (to taste)
  • 3-4 allspice berries (crushed)

To serve:

  • 6 onion white buns (lightly toasted)
  • lettuce leaves
  • tomato slices
  • sliced gherkins

Method

 

  • Heat the vegetable oil in a small frying pan. Add in the red onion and fry gently until softened, stirring often, around 5 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the minced beef, fried onion, cumin, coriander and cinnamon with your hands.
  • Break in the egg and mix in, adding in the Parmesan and the Dijon mustard and mixing well.
  • Shape the mince mixture into 6 even-sized patties using a cling film-lined jar lid or dish to get the shape.
  • Chill the burgers until firm, around 2-3 hours. The burgers won't keep chilled for longer than 12 hours but can be frozen.
  • While the burgers are chilling, make the relish. Place the tomatoes, white wine, vinegar, sugar, chilli and allspice in a heavy-based saucepan.
  • Bring to the boil, and then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring now and then, until reduced and thickened to a jam-like consistency, around 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  • Grill or fry the chilled burgers until cooked to taste. Top each freshly cooked burger with a slice of cheese, allowing the cheese to melt with the heat from the piping hot burger.
  • To Serve:
  • Serve the burgers in lightly toasted white buns, with layers of lettuce, tomato and sliced gherkin, with the tomato relish.