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Homemade beef hamburgers

28/11/2023

Homemade beef hamburgers are a timeless classic, and with a few touches of Italian tradition, they can be transformed into a gourmet dish. Here is a basic recipe for making beef hamburgers, with various cooking options in a pan, on a grill, and in the oven.

Ingredients

  • 500 g of ground beef (preferably with a fat content of 15-20% for more flavour)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Optional: spices or aromatic herbs to taste (such as paprika, garlic powder, onion powder)

Preparation

  1. Mixing: In a bowl, mix the ground beef with salt and pepper. If desired, also add other spices or aromatic herbs.
  2. Forming the hamburgers: Divide the mixture into 4 equal parts (about 125 g each). Shape each portion into a ball and then gently press it down to form disks about 2 cm thick. Make sure not to overwork the mixture to maintain the texture and flavor.

Cooking

In a pan or on a grill

  1. Heat a pan (cast iron preferred) or grill over medium-high heat.
  2. Cook the hamburgers for about 3-4 minutes per side for rare to medium, and 5-6 minutes per side for well done.

In the oven

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
  2. Place the hamburgers on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and cook them for about 10-15 minutes, turning halfway through, until the desired degree of doneness is reached.

Tips

  • Avoid pressing down on the hamburgers while cooking, to keep the juices inside.
  • Let the hamburgers rest for a couple of minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.

Homemade beef hamburgers are versatile and can be adapted to various tastes and preferences. The choice of spices, the degree of doneness, and the cooking method can be altered according to your personal preferences.

Curiosity

The hamburger has become a symbol of American cuisine, but its origins are far from clear. The name suggests a connection with the city of Hamburg, Germany, from where immigrants would have brought the recipe to America. However, today every country has its own variant, and in Italy, it is not uncommon to find hamburgers rich in Mediterranean flavors such as sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and buffalo mozzarella.