Pimp That Snack
Language: English

U-Burger

About this build

A large beef patty is served in a country loaf with onion, tomato and lettuce, then cut into pizza-style portions for sharing.

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The finished burger on a plate with one wedge cut away, exposing the patty layer
Notes from the contributor

Selected passages from the original account. Quantities may describe shopping, tests or the final build; follow the linked passage for its full context.

Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees C and mix the following ingredients in a bowl:

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Using a cake tin and two pieces of grease-proof paper, make into a round burger – line the tin with a circular piece and press down. Fry the burger for one minute on each side to seal.

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U-Burger: the archived recipe

Condensed from the original account by Justin Gupta, published 2006-05-10. The quantities and method are the contributor’s; this is not a new kitchen test.

Ingredients recorded

  • 500 grammes (1 pound) lean beef mince
  • 1 small onion, or a small piece of a large onion, finely chopped
  • 1 egg
  • 1 piece of rustic bread, hand-crumbled
  • Pinches of salt and pepper
  • A squirt of ketchup
  • 1 pain de campagne, traditional French white bread, 400 grammes
  • 4 slices of a large onion, fried
  • 1 large beef tomato, sliced, raw or fried
  • 1 slice of iceberg lettuce
  • Ketchup and salad cream

The account calls it a snack for 3-6 people at an approximate cost of £5; three slices are shown, and from experience it feeds four, five or even six. The bread is named as Alan’s rustic bread, M&S farmhouse soft oatmeal, and the loaf as Sainsbury’s. Minced beef should be cooked right through.

Method recorded

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees C and mix the mince, chopped onion, egg, crumbled bread, salt, pepper and ketchup in a bowl.
  2. Line a cake tin with a circle of greaseproof paper, press the mixture down into a round burger and cover it with a second piece of paper.
  3. Fry the burger for one minute on each side to seal it.
  4. Put the sealed burger on a grill pan in the oven for 15 minutes, turning it after 10. Meanwhile fry the onion slices and the tomato, if wanted.
  5. Cut the bread in half.
  6. Layer sauce and iceberg lettuce, then the burger, then the onion, tomato and more sauce, varying the sections as you like.
  7. With a sharp knife, cut slowly from the middle towards the edge and divide the U-burger into slices like a pizza.
  8. Serve with chips and salad.

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The original account

Why do we cut pizzas and cakes up into pieces? Why should burgers be any different?

How about making a big burger, an Uber-Burger, cutting it into pieces and sharing with your friends?

A snack for 3-6 people. Mmm. Approximate cost: £5.

Person in an apron presenting a dinner-plate-sized raw beef patty and a bagged ball of bread dough

Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees C and mix the following ingredients in a bowl:

* 500 grammes (1 pound) lean beef mince
* 1 small onion (or a small piece of a large onion) chopped, finely
* 1 egg
* 1 piece of Alan’s rustic bread (M&S farmhouse soft oat-meal), hand crumbled
* pinches of salt and pepper
* squirt of ketchup

Using a cake tin and two pieces of grease-proof paper, make into a round burger – line the tin with a circular piece and press down. Fry the burger for one minute on each side to seal.

Lifting the huge cooked patty off a foil-lined grill tray with a spatula at the oven

To construct the burger you will need:

* 1 ‘pain de campaigne’ traditional french white bread 400 grammes (Sainsbury’s)
* 4 slices of a large onion, fried
* 1 large beef tomato sliced, raw or fried
* 1 slice of iceberg lettuce
* ketchup and salad cream

Put the sealed burger on a grill pan in the oven for 15 minutes, turning after 10 minutes. While the burger is cooking you can fry the onions and tomatoes, if required.

Thick onion rings frying in a wok, turned with a slotted spatula

Cut the bread in half.

Put some sauce and iceberg lettuce, follower by the burger, then add the onion, tomato and more sauce; varying sections of the U-burger as desired.

Bun base loaded with the giant patty, sauce and overlapping tomato slices on a plate

Bun base topped with fried onions and cheese, a wedge of iceberg lettuce alongside

Take a sharp knife.

Working from the middle of the U-burger, cut, slowly, towards the edge.

Hands pressing the top bun down and driving a skewer through the assembled giant burger

Divide the U-burger into slices.

Here, we’ve done three pieces, but from experience, this will feed four, five or even six!

Three plated wedges of the burger sharing a kitchen worktop beside a kettle

The finished burger on a plate with one wedge cut away, exposing the patty layer

Serve, with chips and salad.

Sit on the sofa for twenty minutes feeling slightly unwell.

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