Sampling Stuffed Burgers
If you haven’t had a chance to try stuffed burgers yet, those us of who have almost envy you the opportunity to enjoy that first delicious, remarkable bite. These burgers have something to offer no matter your taste. You can find burgers stuffed with bacon, Bleu cheese, cheddar, sundried tomatoes, and for the brave at heart Jalapeno peppers. Naturally, the choice of meat for the burger is also important, and just because the burger is stuffed doesn’t mean you can’t stack additional flavorful ingredients on top.
The History
The idea of the giant burger with multiple ingredients is one Americans have loved since the 1950’s. In those early days however, the stuffing for the burger wasn’t very inspired or daring. In the last few years the popularity of burgers has grown beyond the drive-through window and into fine dinning restaurants. The flat, pressed, bland burger is out of favor while the savory tastes, and surprise additions to a mound of good quality beef is probably available someplace in your town.
The type of beef is of course just as critical to making of a stuffed burger with most chefs preferring angus beef, while others actually ground steaks to make a rarified and hard to forget burger experience.
Restaurants Featuring Stuffed Burgers
If you are lucky there’s a Full Belly in your town. True to this restaurant’s name they take pride in sending customers home satisfied. Their usual menu offers eclectic selections such as scotch eggs, fried green tomatoes, truffle tots, and a bowl called the Belly Buster filled with tater tots, mac and cheese, bacon, sour cream and scallions. You know if this is what they put in a bowl the stuffed burgers will be incredible. They are in fact amazing. Along with the more common Blue cheese and bacon, or cheese and bacon burger you will find the Italian burger, which is stuffed with mozzarella, chopped spinach, and sun dried tomatoes.
Some restaurants are even more inventive when it comes to this concept. Jay’s Stuffed Burgers in Plymouth Michigan has a varied menu, and features burgers such as the Paul Bunyan. In Jay’s version of the Paul Bunyan the Angus beef burger is stuffed with butter garlic mashed potatoes, bacon, and sharp cheddar. The advice to burger novices who come for the first time is to bring a hungry friend to finish off this plate that also comes with fries.
Ordering
If this is your first time ordering a stuffed burger don’t follow the temptation for the wildest combinations of flavors you can find. Try something with ingredients you’re familiar with and that you know you like.
With the first bite you find the secret to the appeal of this type of burger is the blending of tastes. There is big difference in a burger with a pile of additions stacked on top, and the burger stuffed with various ingredients. Cooked together, the tastes don’t compete for attention, but rather compliment each other.
Making at Home
When making the stuffed burger at home the fun is you can be brave and daring as you decide on the ingredients. The only bad burger is the one you never tried, so take a tour of the grocery store and decide on what tastes you enjoy with a burger. Often if certain ideas come immediately to mind you can find a recipe for this combination. The key to making a really great burger is to select fresh produce and fresh meat. Even though the vegetables you use will be cooked inside the burger you want to find them fresh and crisp with no signs of wilt to use for this purpose.
If you want to use cheese either inside or outside the burger, use the type you enjoy the most. It’s not necessary to find a cheese with a strong taste, as the cheese will work in combination with the burger. You don’t want too strong a cheese taste that overwhelms the taste of the other ingredients.
The Right Meat
Many people, and most restaurants use Angus beef for this type of burger, but any type that’s fresh and holds together well during grilling will work. Too lean a beef will dry out while cooking, as it’s the fat content that holds the meat together while grilling. Most long-time grillers and chefs suggest looking for a label of 80/20 for the ground beef.
Enjoy Your Efforts
You might want to experiment and enjoy a few stuffed burgers before having for a cookout for guests. At the very least, a few tries alone in the kitchen or grilling in the backyard gives you an excuse to keep every delicious bite of your stuffed masterpiece to yourself.
Burgers are often served with fries, baked potatoes, or salad. The best wine to serve with beef is a classic red, or if you want to compliment other flavors in this dish a rich Chardonnay.
When making the stuffed burger at home the fun is you can be brave and daring as you decide on the ingredients. The only bad burger is the one you never tried, so take a tour of the grocery store and decide on what tastes you enjoy with a burger. Often if certain ideas come immediately to mind you can find a recipe for this combination. The key to making a really great burger is to select fresh produce and fresh meat. Even though the vegetables you use will be cooked inside the burger you want to find them fresh and crisp with no signs of wilt to use for this purpose.
If you want to use cheese either inside or outside the burger, use the type you enjoy the most. It’s not necessary to find a cheese with a strong taste, as the cheese will work in combination with the burger. You don’t want too strong a cheese taste that overwhelms the taste of the other ingredients.
The Right Meat
Many people, and most restaurants use Angus beef for this type of burger, but any type that’s fresh and holds together well during grilling will work. Too lean a beef will dry out while cooking, as it’s the fat content that holds the meat together while grilling. Most long-time grillers and chefs suggest looking for a label of 80/20 for the ground beef.
Enjoy Your Efforts
You might want to experiment and enjoy a few stuffed burgers before having for a cookout for guests. At the very least, a few tries alone in the kitchen or grilling in the backyard gives you an excuse to keep every delicious bite of your stuffed masterpiece to yourself.
Burgers are often served with fries, baked potatoes, or salad. The best wine to serve with beef is a classic red, or if you want to compliment other flavors in this dish a rich Chardonnay.