Too Many Ideas. One Seriously Good Burger.

Caroline Mumbi
Too Many Ideas. One Seriously Good Burger. - Artcaffé Restaurant

Too Many Ideas. One Seriously Good Burger.

We asked our marketing team one simple question: What ingredients make the perfect burger?

As you can imagine, asking a room full of creatives did not lead to one simple answer. Everyone had a favourite combination, a must have topping and a very strong opinion about the sauce.

But that is exactly what makes burgers so much fun. There is no single recipe for the perfect one. You can experiment with flavours, play with different textures and build a burger that feels completely your own.

So, we brought some of our favourite ideas together to create a gourmet Texan burger you can make at home.

Gourmet Texan Burger with Smoky Harissa Mayo

Serves one

This burger brings together Artcaffe artisanal buns, a juicy Texan patty from the Artcaffe market butchery, browns melted cheddar, smoky harissa mayo, tangy jalapeño pickles and crispy caramelised onions. Serve it with a fresh cucumber crunch salad and an Artcaffe lemonade  for the full experience.

What You Will Need

For the Burger

  • Artcaffe Texan burger patty

  • Artisanal freshly baked burger buns

  • Cheddar melt cheese

  • Lettuce

  • 1 tomato 

  • Fried onions

  • Artcaffe garlic & dill pickled cucumbers

  • 1 teaspoon cooking oil

  • A little butter for toasting the bun, optional

For the Smoky Harissa Mayo

  • Artcaffe aioli sauce

  • Harissa spice blend

To Serve

  • 1 glass or bottle of Artcaffe lemonade

  • Artcaffè cucumber crunch salad

Make the Smoky Harissa Mayo Sauce

Add the 1 tablespoon aioli sauce and ¼ teaspoon of harissa spice blend to a small bowl.

Stir and mix until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Taste and add a little more harissa if you prefer a stronger kick. Start small because harissa can go from pleasantly warm to calling for backup very quickly.

Prepare the Fresh Ingredients

Wash and dry one leaf of lettuce thoroughly to keep it crisp and prevent the burger bun from becoming soggy.

Slice the tomato and lightly season two slices with salt and black pepper just before assembling the burger.

Have the pickles from your Artcaffe garlic & dill pickled cucumbers, fried onions and cheese ready. Once the patty enters the pan, everything moves quickly.

Toast the Burger Bun

Place a pan over medium heat. Lightly butter the cut sides of the bun, then place them face down in the pan.

Toast for 30 to 60 seconds, or until golden and lightly crisp. Remove the bun and set it aside.

Cook the Texan Patty

Add 1 teaspoon of cooking oil to the hot pan.

Place the Artcaffe Texan patty in the pan and let it cook undisturbed for approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Leaving it alone helps it develop a rich, golden crust.

Flip the patty once and cook the other side for another 3 to 4 minutes. Avoid pressing it with your spatula because that squeezes out the juices that keep the burger tender.

During the final minute, place the cheddar slice over the patty. Add a small splash of water beside the patty and immediately cover the pan. Let it steam for 30 to 45 seconds, or until the cheese has melted.

Follow the cooking instructions on the patty packaging where provided. If you do not have a food thermometer, make a small cut through the thickest part and check that the centre is piping hot and contains no cold, soft or visibly raw meat. If necessary, return it to the pan and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes on each side.

Remove the patty from the pan and allow it to rest for 2 minutes. Yes, waiting is difficult, but it helps the juices settle inside the meat instead of escaping onto the plate.

Build Your Gourmet Burger

Spread half of the smoky harissa mayo over the bottom bun.

Add one leaf of your dried lettuce, followed by the hot Artcaffe Texan patty with its melted cheddar.

Layer on the seasoned tomato slices and the picked out pickles and cucumber.

Sprinkle the fried onions over the top for a final savoury crunch.

Spread the remaining sauce inside the top bun, close the burger and press it down gently.

Serve immediately with the chilled cucumber crunch salad and cold pressed pineapple mint.

Cooking for More People?

The quantities above make one burger. When cooking for family or friends, multiply each ingredient by the number of people you are serving.

Then let everyone assemble their own burger. It is part meal, part activity and a very good reason to gather around the kitchen.

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