Homemade Cumin and Coriander Flavored (Meat) Burger + Pickled Onions

What represents Summer better than grilling a burger? Every "grill party" that I have been to all three summers here, had a signature burger on the menu by host/hostess. So this is kin of my signature burger , which i have developed for some time...

Coriander , cumin flavored burger patties , on toasted bun , with mayo-ketchup base , layered with tomato (no greens please ) pan fried turkey bacon , and topped with pickled onion( a modern name for our good old kerala style challas/sallas)..Wanna Come over for a "grill party"???

Hows your weekends coming along? For us , Friday evening till Saturday midnight is like an elongated day , with a lil patch of night here and there. Less sleep , awesome food,  more fun with friends and family. Last Saturday after the lil party at aunt's place with awesome straight from the grill food , nobody could even move , still we manage to sneak out for a " second show mallu movie", a totally hilarious one...Oh yeah we have a malayalam theatre nearby and never miss any new ones, something I never used to do back in India..

Recipe for Homemade Beef/Chicken Burger patties Flavored with Cumin and Coriander

Serves - 4 ( if 2 for each)

Makes -8-10 patties

Total Time - 30 minutes.+ an hour for preparation.

Ingredients:-

Ground Meat/Minced Meat - 2.5 lb ( Beef , chicken , Turkey or Pork. I used 85-15 Ground Beef)

Minced garlic or garlic powder - 1 tea spoon

Minced Onions or Onion powder - 2 tea spoon

Ground coriander - 1/2 tea spoon

Ground Cumin - 1/2 tea spoon

Ground Black pepper - 1/4 to 1/2 tea spoon or as you like it.

Salt to taste

Oil - a drizzle

For glazing(optional) :- mix lemon juice , soy or red wine vinegar with a lil Steak sauce)

Directions:-

In a large bowl , mix ground meat with all the other ingredients . Divide into 8-10 orange sized balls balls and form patties (wet your hands with a lil water or oil , take an orange sized ball and press it lightly on your palm with the other hand.Shape the sides and arrange it on a tray) Refrigerate till you are ready to grill;at least for an hour. You can make it any size you want. 

Heat the grill to medium , lightly brush it with olive oil or any oil , place the patties on the grill , and cook each side for 10 -12 minutes plus , turning them a few times and lightly brushing  it with the glaze.  

10-12 minutes on each side is  for well done, and since i hate to see any pink inside i cook for this much time and you can adjust the cooking time as you want.

In the last 2 minutes , put a piece of cheese slice on top of the patty and let it melt. Mean while arrange everything to layer the burger.

If you don't have a grill ( I normally use george foreman indoor grill) , do this in a cast iron pan on stove top.

Layering the Burger ( mix and match to make your own)

Mayo + Ketchup - 1 cup ( mix equal qty of mayo and ketchup in a small bowl)

Turkey Bacon - 1 for each burger so total 8-10 (pan fry it for 2-3 minutes)

Sliced Tomato - 1 for each burger

American cheese or any cheese.

A spoon full of pickled onion ( recipe below)

Burger Buns - 4 

Lightly toast the burger buns ( pan or grill). Spread a spoon of mayo - ketchup on the base. Place a piece of sliced tomato , then the burger patties with melted cheese , , then broken turkey bacon pieces and top with pickled onion. Here You go !!! Have a Bite , Njoy!!!

Recipe for Pickled Onion ( challas or sallas we serve back in Kerala with cutlets)

Red onion thinly sliced - 2 

Lemon juice or vinegar - 2 table spoon

Salt to taste

Chopped green chiles - 1

In a small bowl , mix red onions , salt and lemon juice . Squeeze it with your hands as you mix it to release maximum juice to the bowl. Mix well. Add chopped green chiles. keep in the refrigerator and serve chilled.

Good day all,

Sarah