Retro hamburger recipes: A new look for burgers (1968)
What would we do without the hamburger? Children would starve. The barbecue and outdoor cookout would all but die. And everybody would be bereft of one of the great pleasures of life — that thick, fragrant, juicy hunk of meat that’s tucked inside a bun.
But why should hamburgers be limited only to the common, everyday variety? Why not dress them up? That’s why we called on the talents of our own master chef, Jacques Jaffry, to come up with some exciting, offbeat variations.
And here they are. Full of fun, full of surprises, and above all, downright delicious. So make up a big tray of hamburger patties — some thin, some thick, some shaped like a hot dog. Surround them all with the goodies that make up the variations and let your guests make their own.
The 14 retro hamburger recipes included here
1. Chinese burger – Stuffed with a mixture of bean sprouts, chopped water chestnuts and scallions seasoned with soy sauce and ginger.
2. Deviled burger – Mustard and onion are the devil’s advocates. A stuffing with zest!
3. Mexican chili burger – This one is seasoned south-of-the border style with chili powder and green pepper.
4. American cheese-stuffed burger – A variation of our great cheeseburger.
5. Italian burger – Like pizza, it’s stuffed with tomato and mozzarella and seasoned with oregano, garlic, and basil.
6. Guacamole burger – Redolent with avocado, tomato, pimiento, and onion. A stuffing with a special zip!
7. German burger – A taste thrill — seasoned with caraway and minced onion and topped with coleslaw before serving. Buns are lightly toasted.
8. French burger – Reminiscent of a fancy menu — this one is stuffed with chopped mushrooms, parsley, and green onions or shallots that are seasoned with lemon juice. It’s called Bercy!
9. Danish burgers
10. Greek burgers
11. Mushroom burgers
12. Herbed burgers
13. Hot-dog burgers
14. Smoked cheeseburgers
1. Chinese burgers
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 cup soy sauce
6 tablespoons drained bean sprouts (from a 5-ounce can)
1 can (5 ounces) water chestnuts, drained and chopped
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
6 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
Combine meat, salt, ginger, and 1/4 cup soy sauce. Toss lightly with fork until well blended. Shape into twelve 3-inch patties. Combine bean sprouts, water chestnuts, onions, and 1/4 cup soy sauce.
Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of mixture on each of 6 patties. Cover with other 6 patties. Seal edges. Brush with soy sauce. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side, basting with remaining soy sauce during cooking. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 6 servings.
2. Deviled burgers
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons minced onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons leaf tarragon, crumbled
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons prepared mustard
2 tablespoons softened butter or margarine
4 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
Combine meat, onion, salt, tarragon, Worcestershire, and 2 tablespoons mustard. Toss lightly with fork until blended.
Shape into four 3-inch patties. Cream butter or margarine with remaining 1 tablespoon mustard. Brush over burgers. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side, basting with remaining butter mixture. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 4 servings.
3. Mexican chili burgers
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup finely minced green pepper
1/2 cup finely minced onion (1 medium)
1 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder
4 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
Combine all ingredients except buns. Toss lightly with fork until blended. Shape into four 3-inch patties. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 4 servings.
4. American cheese stuffed burgers
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 slices American cheese, cut in half
4 thin slices onion
4 slices tomato
4 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
Combine meat, salt, and pepper. Toss lightly with fork until blended. Shape into eight 3-inch patties. Layer half slice of cheese, 1 slice onion, 1 slice tomato, and a second half slice cheese on each of 4 patties.
Cover with other patties. Seal edges. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 4 servings.
5. Italian stuffed burgers
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
Dash of freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon leaf oregano, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon leaf basil, crumbled
1/4 cup minced onion (1 small)
1 clove of garlic, minced
4 slices mozzarella cheese
1 small tomato, cut in four slices
4 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
Combine meat, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, onion, and garlic. Toss lightly with fork until well blended. Shape into eight 3-inch patties. Place 1 slice mozzarella and 1 slice tomato on each of 4 patties.
Cover with other 4 patties. Seal edges. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 4 servings.
6. Guacamole stuffed burger
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1-1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
Dash liquid hot-pepper seasoning
1 tomato, cut in 4 slices
1 small avocado, peeled and sliced
1 can (4 ounces) pimientos, drained
4 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
Combine meat, salt, and pepper seasoning. Toss lightly with fork until blended. Shape into eight 3-inch patties. On each of four patties layer 1 slice tomato, a few slices avocado, and 1 pimiento.
Cover with other patties. Seal edges. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 4 servings.
7. German burgers
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons minced onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
2 tablespoons caraway seeds
1 cup coleslaw, drained
4 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
Combine meat, onion, salt, pepper, and caraway seeds. Toss lightly until blended. Shape into four 3-inch patties. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Put one on each bun half. Top with coleslaw and other half bun. Makes 4 servings.
8. French burgers (Bercy)
Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons minced shallots or green onions
1/2 pound mushrooms, chopped
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
6 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Add shallots or green onions; cook 1 minute. Add mushrooms, lemon juice, and parsley; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Combine meat, salt, and pepper. Toss lightly with fork until blended.
Shape into twelve 3-inch patties. Place about 2 tablespoons mushroom mixture on each of 6 patties; cover with other patties. Seal edges. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 6 servings.
Danish stuffed burgers
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons minced onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
4 tablespoons cream cheese
4 tablespoons blue cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon finely cut chives
4 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
Combine meat, onion, salt, and pepper. Toss lightly with fork until blended. Shape into eight 3-inch patties.
Blend cream cheese, blue cheese, and chives. Place 2 tablespoons of cheese mixture on each of 4 patties. Cover with other patties. Seal edges. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 4 servings.
Hot-dog burgers
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
1 garlic or dill pickle, quartered lengthwise
4 toasted frankfurter rolls
Instructions
Combine meat, salt, and pepper. Shape into four rectangular patties, 4 by 5 inches. Place 1 pickle quarter along long edge of each patty. Roll up patties around pickle. Seal edges.
Broil 5 to 6 minutes, turning burgers carefully to broil all sides. Serve in toasted frankfurter rolls. Makes 4 servings.
Relish dogs: Prepare meat and shape patties as above. Spoon 2 tablespoons sweet or hot pickle relish along long edge of each patty; roll up patties. Broil as above. Serve in toasted rolls.
Smoked cheese-stuffed burgers
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons minced onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2/3 cup grated, smoked cheese
4 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
Combine meat, onion, salt, and Worcestershire. Toss lightly with fork until blended. Shape into eight 3-inch patties.
Place about 2 to 3 tablespoons cheese on each of 4 patties. Cover with other patties. Seal edges. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 4 servings.
Mushroom burgers
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons minced shallots or green onions
1 can (5 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained and chopped
4 slices crisp cooked bacon, crumbled
4 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
Combine all ingredients except buns. Toss lightly with fork until blended. Shape into four 3-inch patties. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 4 servings.
Herbed burgers
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
3 tablespoons minced chives
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled
4 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
Combine meat, salt, pepper, chives, parsley, and rosemary. Toss lightly with fork until blended. Shape into four 3-inch patties. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 4 servings.
Greek burgers
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons minced onion
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 cup ricotta or cottage cheese
4 toasted hamburger or sesame-seed buns
Instructions
Combine meat, onion, parsley, salt, and coriander. Toss lightly with fork until blended. Shape into four 3-inch patties. Broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Top each hamburger with 2 tablespoons cheese. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 4 servings.
