Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education

Burger Basics

The Simple Burger

1 lb (500 g) Ground Beef
1/4 cup (50 mL) EACH dry bread crumbs and minced onion
1 lightly beaten egg
  1. Lightly combine all ingredients.
  2. Gently form into four 3/4-inch (2 cm) thick patties.
  3. Cook patties over medium-high heat on a lightly oiled grill. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side, testing doneness with a digital thermometer inserted sideways into centre of each patty - burgers are completely cooked when thermometer reads at least 160ºF (71ºC). Makes 4 burgers.

The Simple Burger Becomes Sensational:
Take one batch of the So-o-o-o Simple Burger mix, include some add-ins to the mix, match with some simple toppings and breads and VOILA - sensational burgers!

  Add-ins Toppings Breads
The Great Canadian 1 cup (250 mL) shredded aged Canadian Cheddar and 2 tbsp (30 mL) Worcestershire sauce crispy bacon
tomato slices
lettuce
chili sauce
toasted sesame bun
Morrocan Burgers 3 tbsp (45 mL) EACH toasted pine nuts and chopped raisins, 1/4 tsp (2 mL) EACH ground cinnamon and cumin chutney
splash of fresh lemon juice
grilled naan or flat bread
Burgers Olé Style 2 tbsp salsa and 4 tsp (25 mL) chili powder guacamole or
chimichurri sauce
red onion slices
grilled flour tortilla

 

 

Kitchen Wisdom

  • To maximize juiciness in lower fat burgers, add 1/4 cup (50 mL) minced fresh mushrooms to 1 lb (500 g) of Lean or Extra Lean Ground Beef.
  • Use a light hand when mixing meat and forming patties - burgers will seem tough and dry if over-handled.
  • Form flat patties of even thickness for faster more uniform cooking.
  • The less fuss when cooking, the better — avoid continuous flipping and pressing on burgers.

 

 

10 Tantalizing Toppings:

  • Coleslaw
  • Cheese: feta, Gorgonzola, Smoked Gouda, goat or Brie
  • Roasted pepper strips
  • Basil or arugula leaves
  • Hot pepper jelly
  • Roasted garlic cloves
  • Pesto
  • Asian chili garlic sauce
  • Mized grilled mushrooms
  • Aioli sauce

For more Tasty Recipe ideas, visit the following sites:

Beef Information Centre - www.beefinfo.org/RECIPE.CFM

Canadian Egg Marketing Agency - www.eggs.ca/recipes/recipes.asp

Canadian Produce Marketing Association - www.cpma.ca/en_home.asp

Chicken Farmers of Canada - www.chicken.ca/DefaultSite/index_e.aspx?DetailID=53

Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency - http://www.turkeyfordinner.ca

Canada Pork - www.trypork.ca

 

 

Other interesting recipe and cooking sites:

All Recipes - www.allrecipes.com

Kraft Foods - http://kraftfoods.com/kf

Dairy Farmers of Canada - http://www.dairygoodness.ca/en/Consumers/Food/Recipes
You will find lots of cheese recipes and the famous milk calendar recipes.

Canadian Living - www.canadianliving.com

Cooking at Chatelaine.com - www.chatelaine.com

Canada's Canola Industry - www.canolainfo.org/html/home.html

Vegan Cooking - www.vegancooking.com

The Cook's Thesaurus - www.foodsubs.com
The Cook's Thesaurus is a cooking encyclopedia that covers thousands of ingredients and kitchen tools. Entries include pictures, descriptions, synonyms, pronunciations, and suggested substitution.