Almost Famous Animal Style Burgers Recipes

BEEF-MUSHROOM BURGERS

Steps:

• Pulse the mushrooms in a food processor until finely chopped. Transfer to a medium bowl; add the beef, garlic, soy sauce, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and mix with your hands until combined. Form into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.
• Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the patties, season with salt and cook until browned, about 3 minutes per side for medium rare. Top each burger with a slice of Swiss cheese, cover and cook until the cheese melts, about 1 more minute. Remove from the heat and uncover.
• Meanwhile, put the edamame in a microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and pierce a few times with a knife to vent. Microwave until the edamame is bright green and tender, about 5 minutes. Uncover and toss with the remaining 2 teaspoons vegetable oil; season with salt.
• Toast the English muffins, then sandwich with the burgers and toppings. Serve with the edamame.

ALMOST-FAMOUS ANIMAL-STYLE BURGERS

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and 3/4 teaspoon salt, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and soft, about 30 minutes. (If the onions brown too quickly, reduce the heat to low.) Uncover, increase the heat to medium high and continue to cook, stirring often, until caramelized, about 8 more minutes. Add 1/2 cup water to the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer, stirring, until the water evaporates, about 2 more minutes; transfer to a bowl and set aside. (The onions can be made up to 3 days ahead; cover and refrigerate, then reheat before using.)
• Mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, relish and vinegar in a bowl; set aside. Shape the beef into 8 patties, about 4 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick.
• Heat a griddle or skillet over medium heat; lightly brush with vegetable oil. Toast the buns on the griddle, split-side down. Spread each toasted bun bottom with about 1 tablespoon of the mayonnaise mixture, then top with a few pickles, some lettuce, 1 or 2 slices tomato and another dollop of the mayonnaise mixture; set aside. (Keep the griddle hot.)
• Season both sides of the patties with salt and pepper. Working in batches if necessary, put the patties on the griddle and cook 3 minutes. Spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard on the uncooked side of each patty, then flip and top each with 1 slice cheese; continue cooking about 2 more minutes for medium doneness. Top 4 of the patties with caramelized onions, then cover with the remaining patties, cheese-side up. Sandwich the double patties on the buns.

BEEF STROGANOFF BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Remove the stems from 4 of the mushrooms and set the stems aside. Put the 4 stemmed mushroom caps, gill-side-up, in a large baking dish, making sure there is at least 1/2 inch of space between them. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast until a knife inserted in the center meets just a bit of resistance, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove and keep warm.
• Clean and roughly chop the reserved mushroom stems and the remaining portobello. Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the chopped mushrooms, garlic and a generous amount of black pepper; cook until the stems are soft, about 4 minutes.
• Sprinkle the flour over the onions and mushrooms and stir until all of the flour has been absorbed. Stir in the beef broth. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until thick, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the sour cream, parsley, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. . Keep warm while you grill the burgers.
• Shape the ground beef into four patties, each about 5-inches in diameter. Sprinkle well with salt and pepper. Heat a nonstick grill pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, spray it liberally with nonstick cooking spray. Add the burgers and cook until nicely browned, about 2 minutes. Flip the burgers and cook for another 1 1/2 minutes for medium-rare.
• Put the bottoms of the buns on serving plates. Top each with a lettuce leaf and a roasted mushroom, gill-side down, then top with a burger and a generous dollop of the sour cream-mushroom sauce. Cover with bun tops and serve.