Kristin's BBQ and the Butter Burger!

Butter Burger. Really? Who adds butter to a burger? Well, Kerry Simon thought it was a good idea. Even though we didn't have the butter burger when we last visited Carson Kitchen, I thought I'd try it!

 I wanted to test the recipe out on our friends so I brought my creation to my girlfriend Kristin's barbecue. The reaction was just what I thought. People were confused, yet intrigued. Why would someone add butter to an already decadent meal? There's a right way, and a wrong way. I think I figured it out. I used a leaner cut of meat and added plenty of acid to cut the richness. The result was a perfectly balanced, yet juicy burger!

We arrived at the shindig. The party had already been raging for hours. Shots of patron were freely flowing. Kristin and I matched each other shot for shot. I have her beat by at least 30 pounds but she keeps up like a champ! 

I handed her friend my burgers and trusted these babies in his hands. He really did do a good job. My friend Chris Duncan, a great chef, teased me by squishing my burgers sightly on the grill. I watched in dismay as the butter dripped through the grates into the fire. I pouted for an hour, telling everyone who would listen, "Chris squeezed my burgers! If they're dry blame them on him!." They weren't. They were still juicy and delicious. He squeezed them to get a rise out of me. It worked. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my food. Can't you tell?

Here's five juicy patties. Two topped with pepper jack, two with American cheese, and one plain.

 

I love mine topped with lettuce, tomato and mustard.

Krystal loved it too. She doesn't like food that's too rich. "It's perfect." She said. My blend of lean meat and fatty burger turned out as a I had planned. 

              

http://youtu.be/HLuynC2UNGk

Jake loved the burger too. He loved it so much that he decided to wear it. He thought I was just taking a snap shot. He had no idea I was filming here. Hilarious. 

 

As you can see, everyone was full and happy.

Butter Burger Recipe (yields 5 big burgers)

Burger
2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)
4 tbsp worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp pickle juice
salt and pepper to taste

Butter
5 tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 onion diced
1 tbsp oil
1-2 tbsp fresh herbs (thyme, tarragon, chives, parsley, etc)
1 garlic clove minced
2 tbsp franks hot sauce
1 tbsp pickle juice
salt and pepper to taste

Making burger meat

Combined all burger ingredients (except salt and pepper) and mix well. Be careful not to over mix. Divide into 10 equal patties and set aside.

To make the compound butter

Saute onions and oil on medium low heat for 15-20 minutes until soft and slightly caramelized. Add herbs and saute until fragrant. Add minced garlic and saute for 3-4 more minutes. Salt and pepper to taste and remove from heat to cool. Add cooled onion/herb mixture, hot sauce and pickle juice to softened butter and mixed thoroughly. Salt and pepper to taste.

Assembling the burgers

Divide compound butter into 5 equal parts. Smear over 5 of the patties, keeping butter in the center. Top with a second patty and seal the sides. Make sure not to overwork the patties. Refrigerate to firm up the patties before cooking.

Cooking the burgers

Season each side of burger well with salt and pepper. Cook on medium high head for 5-8 minutes on each side until desired temperature. Serve and enjoy!