One with the lot

During my frivolous teenage years, a regular occurence after a Saturday night at the "pub" would be for a group of us to drive for 20 minutes down the highway to an "open all night" truck stop, or service station, to grab a hamburger "with the lot". This towering monstrosity was about 6 inches high when complete, combining home made beef rissoles with lettuce, fried onions, tomato, sometimes grilled pineapple rings, beetroot and a fried egg on top, either enclosed in a hamburger bun, or just plain toasted bread on the top and bottom. Inevitably, most of the fillings would fall into the paper bag after the first bite, egg would ooze down the sides of your mouth, and very little conversation was had on the way home.

The humble burger is still one of my all time favourite meals, offering a wide range of fillings to suit all types of fussy eaters. It can either be blatantly wholesome or wickedly evil, depending on your mood or ingredients you have on hand.

I opted for a healthy version as a midweek dinner after a hectic day at work, and would like to submit this as an entry for the Weekend Herb Blogging event, hosted this week by Astrid at Paulchen's Food Blog

Chilli Burger

500 g lean beef mince

4 spring onions, finely chopped

2 tblsp sweet chilli sauce

1 clove garlic, crushed

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tblsp tomato paste

2 tblsp chopped fresh coriander

salt and pepper

Tabasco sauce to taste

1 large onion sliced into rings

1/4 cup soy sauce

3 tsps soft brown sugar

Combine mince, spring onions, chilli sauce, garlic, worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, coriander, salt, pepper and tabasco in a large bowl. Mix with hands until well combined. Divide mixture into 4 patties.

Heat a large frying pan or grill plate, brush liberally with oil,. Cook patties 3-4 minutes each side or until brown and cooked through.

While patties are cooking, cook onion rings, brushing with combined soy sauce and brown sugar until onion is tender and caramelized.

Toast hamburger buns or Turkish bread. Spread with mayo, or sauce, or pesto...whatever takes your fancy, lettuce, tomato, cheddar etc. Top with meat pattie and onions..enjoy.