Skip to main content
Part of complete coverage on

Recipe Makeover: Cast-iron burgers

CookingLight.com
Click to play
Recipe makeover: Cast-iron burgers
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • These burgers use leaner meat to cut fat
  • Treat the meat gently to keep the tenderness
  • Portion size is also important for keeping the meal more healthful
RELATED TOPICS

(Cooking Light) -- Summer means outdoor activities and more cookouts, so it also means more hamburgers.

But a good burger doesn't have to be oversized or loaded up with condiments to be tasty. Here's a recipe that cuts the fat but brings out the flavor.

Two secrets to the perfect burger are contained in this recipe: Salt the meat and let rest so the salt can penetrate, and shape lightly into patties that just barely hold together for a tender final product.

A horseradish-mustard-mayo-ketchup sauce and bacon-caramelized onion relish for toppings don't hurt, either.

These take a bit longer than your standard burger, but the magnificent results are worth it.

Ingredients
Serving size: Four burgers

Patties: 1 pound ground sirloin
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

CookingLight.com: Best of 2010

Horseradish spread:
1 tablespoon canola mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
2 teaspoons ketchup

Relish:
2 applewood-smoked bacon slices, chopped
3 cups vertically sliced yellow onion
1 tablespoon finely chopped chives
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Other ingredients:
Cooking spray
4 (1 1/2-ounce) hamburger buns or Kaiser rolls
4 (1/4-inch-thick) tomato slices
1 cup shredded lettuce

Preparation
(About 70 minutes)

1. To prepare the patties, divide beef into four portions, lightly shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Sprinkle evenly with salt. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.

2. To prepare horseradish spread, combine mayonnaise and next three ingredients (through ketchup) in a small bowl. Set aside.

3. To prepare relish, cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan with a slotted spoon. Add onion to drippings in pan; cook 15 minutes or until golden brown. Combine bacon, onion mixture, chives, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper in a small bowl.

4. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add patties; cook two minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.

5. Spread 1 1/2 teaspoons horseradish spread on cut sides of each bun half.

6. Top bottom half of each bun with 1 patty, 1/4 cup relish, 1 tomato slice, 1/4 cup lettuce, and top half of bun.

CookingLight.com: Spring clean your diet

Nutritional Information

Calories: 351
Fat: 12g (sat 3.5g, mono 3.4g, poly 3.2g)
Protein: 29.2g
Carbohydrate: 32.7g
Fiber: 3g
Cholesterol: 66mg
Iron: 3.7mg
Sodium: 788mg
Calcium: 91mg

Enter for a chance to win in our $5,000 Grocery Giveaway

Copyright 2011 Cooking Light magazine. All rights reserved.