Ultimate Smashburger

Ultimate Smashburger

This recipe is perfect for the Grill Guru Plancha, but it also works great on gas grills with a cast iron cooking plate or on a kamado (direct heat) using a cast iron pan or plate. Just make sure the cast iron has plenty of time to get seriously hot.

4

Hot! 250–300°C

5 mins

Ingredients

Burgers:
600 g ground beef (not too lean, e.g. 80/20)
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
4 slices cheddar (or another good melting cheese)
Finely chopped onion
Sliced pickles

Sauce:
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp ketchup
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp pickle juice
1 tsp finely chopped pickle
Pinch of garlic and/or onion powder

Other:
4 brioche burger buns
Butter or neutral oil

Preparation

Divide the beef (no seasoning yet) into 8 loose balls of about 75 g each and let them come to room temperature. Mix all the sauce ingredients and adjust to taste, this could easily become your signature sauce.

Heat the plancha or cast iron pan until screaming hot and add a small amount of oil. The hotter the surface, the better the burger.


Place a beef ball on the hot surface and immediately smash it flat using a sturdy spatula or burger press. As thin as possible - the thinner, the better. Season generously with salt and pepper and cook for about 90 seconds. Don’t touch it!

Flip the burger, immediately add the cheese, and cook for another 30–45 seconds.

Slice the buns and toast the cut sides in a little butter until golden brown. Build the burger: sauce first, then a patty, followed by onion and pickles, another patty, optional extra sauce, top bun, and you’re done.