Sids Onion Burger Recipes

OKLAHOMA ONION BURGERS

Steps:

• Divide the beef: Line a 13-by-18-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the ground beef into 4 even balls. Working one ball at a time and using your hands, massage the meat until it is cohesive and tacky, about 15 seconds. Next, using clean hands, roll each into a smooth ball. Place the balls on the baking sheet, with 1 ball in the center of each quadrant. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Shape the patties: Gently press each ball into a disk-shaped patty about 3 inches wide. Place the patties on a sheet pan or large plate, and season the tops with salt and pepper. Flip the patties, and top each with a large pile of sliced onions - as many as you can balance on top; they should resemble a large haystack. (It is important to not add salt to the onions at this point, as it will draw out excess moisture, which will inhibit searing.)
• Heat the skillet or griddle: Heat a large (12-inch) cast-iron or carbon-steel skillet or griddle (see Tips) over an indoor burner set to high heat or on the grates of a hot outdoor grill for a few minutes until very hot; a drop of water should skitter around the surface. (If you don't have a pan skillet or griddle big enough, you can cook the burgers in batches.) Place 1 patty of beef in the center of one quadrant of the pan, with the onions on top (do not add any oil).
• Smash the burgers: Using a very stiff spatula, press on the onions and beef to form a patty 4½- to 5-inches wide. As you smash, focus on the patty's edges so that the finished patty is slightly thicker in the center and smashed out as thinly as possible along the edges. Repeat with the remaining patties. Use the spatula to place any stray onions back on top of the burgers. Season the onions lightly with salt and pepper.
• Cook the burgers: Allow patties to cook without moving until the edges are dark brown and crusty, 1 to 2 minutes. Holding the spatula upside down (so that the head of the spatula is angled down to increase leverage), scrape the edges of each patty off the pan, working around each patty to ensure that you don't leave any crispy edges behind. When the edges have all been loosened, turn the spatula back over (so you are holding it the standard way) and flip the patties onion side down. Use the spatula and tongs or a fork to tuck any stray onion slices mostly under the patties.
• Steam the cheese and buns: Add a slice of cheese to each patty. Place the top half of each burger bun on top of the cheese, and place the bottom half of each bun on top of the top bun, split-side down. Cover the pan or griddle with a large domed lid, a large overturned saucepan or a clean folded dish towel. (To avoid a fire, make sure the edges of the dish towel do not hang over the skillet or griddle. If cooking on an outdoor grill, just close the lid.) Continue cooking until the onions are browned along the edges and the buns are steamed through, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
• To serve, open the cover or lid. Remove the bottom burger bun halves to a serving platter. Add pickles and condiments as desired. (These burgers don't typically need condiments.) Lift each burger from the skillet with the spatula and transfer to the bottom bun. Serve immediately.

SARAH'S OKLAHOMA ONION BURGER

Steps:

• Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add butter and oil; heat until butter is melted. Add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, divide ground meat into 4 portions and shape into patties. Season with salt and seasoning.
• Heat a large skillet or flat-top over medium-high heat for a few minutes. Place patties into the hot skillet and smash with a spatula or bacon press. Hold patties down for 30 seconds, then cover each patty with some of the cooked onion. Cook for 2 minutes. Carefully flip burgers, making sure to scrape the browned bits off the skillet.
• Press down on the flipped patties to sink the onions into the meat.
• Meanwhile, add sliced mushrooms to the skillet used for the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Season patties with salt and pepper and place a slice of cheese on each. Cook until burgers have reached the desired doneness, 2 to 4 minutes more. Top each patty with leftover onion and mushrooms and serve on buns.

SID'S ONION BURGER

Steps:

• Working in 2 batches, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12" cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add 3 beef balls and, using the back of a spatula, press down on them until they're thin; cook for 1 minute.
• Top each patty with a portion of the onions; season with salt.
• Press onions into the meat and cook for 1 minute more.
• Flip burgers; flatten with the spatula. Place a cheese slice on each patty and let melt while onions and meat brown.
• Serve on buns.

FRIED ONION BURGER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250˚ F. Mix the beef with 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl, then form into 8 balls.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 of the beef balls and slightly flatten with a metal spatula. Place a handful of the sliced onions on each patty (you'll use about a quarter of the onions for 2 patties - it will seem like a lot!) and flatten the beef into 1/4-inch-thick patties, pressing the onions into each burger. Cook until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip the burgers along with the onions and cook until the onions are browned and tender, about 2 more minutes. Flip the burgers again, along with the onions, and top each with a slice of cheese. Cover and continue cooking until the cheese melts, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven until serving.
• Repeat with the remaining beef and onions to make 8 burgers total, adding more vegetable oil to the skillet if needed. Serve 2 burgers on each bun with ketchup, mustard and/or pickles.