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Author:
Franco Salzillo
Making a burger is just grilling a patty and sandwiching it inside a bun, right? Well, sure, but if you want to make a truly special cheeseburger, you must put some thought into it. In this case, we’re making ours extra special with homemade onion rings, and that alone makes a huge difference!
So, what makes a classic cheeseburger? It depends, of course. How do you like yours? That’s the beauty behind this all-American classic; it’s super customizable. You can literally add anything you want to burgers, from jalapeño peppers to dill pickles.
Good-quality meat is definitely a good start, but I’m not getting into meat in this recipe — find the patties that work for you, and you’ll be okay. You’ll also need some cheese, and good-old American cheese is perfect in this case; even if it isn’t the tastiest or the most natural, let’s not be judgy.
For the onion rings, we’re going with the classic combo or all-purpose flour and beer, but there’s a third ingredient, and it matters — cornstarch. It gives the onion rings a nicer golden color and a crunchier bite. Besides, the batter sticks to the onions a bit better, so they don’t fall apart.
And talking about classic burgers, I’m making mine with two patties and two slices of cheese, so these are, actually, double cheeseburgers, but they’re classic too! And I’m sure you’ll also appreciate the extra meatiness.
For the onion rings:
For the cheeseburgers:
To make the onion rings, cut the onion into rings and set them aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and cornmeal. Add the beer and season with salt and pepper. Combine.
Heat a saucepan with 2 inches of cooking oil. Coat the rings one at a time and deep-fry until golden and crispy, flipping once. Set aside over a paper towel.
To make the burger, heat a grill or skillet and cook the patties all the way through flipping once. After flipping, top each patty with a slice of American cheese and let it melt.
In a separate skillet, melt the butter and slightly toast the brioche buns.
Assemble the burgers with the two patties in the middle topped with the lettuce, tomato and onion rings.
Condiment to taste and add any extra toppings.
