Mummy Burgers

Mummy burgers are a fun themed snack that can be particularly appreciated during the Halloween festivities, but they are also fun to prepare at other times for a party or to surprise guests with something unusual. Here’s an Italian twist on this recipe:

Ingredients

• 500 grams of ground beef
• 1 egg
• 50 grams of breadcrumbs
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Mozzarella cheese slices or shavings
• 1 roll of puff pastry
• Black olives (for the eyes)
• Ketchup or tomato sauce (for serving)

Preparation

1. Start by mixing the ground beef with the egg, breadcrumbs, finely chopped garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until you have a homogeneous mixture.
2. Shape the meat mixture into burgers, and cook them in a non-stick pan or on a grill, until they are well browned on both sides and cooked to the desired point.
3. While the burgers cool slightly, roll out the puff pastry and cut it into thin strips.
4. Cut the burgers slightly from side to side to be able to insert the mozzarella slices, being careful not to cut all the way through.
5. Wrap the puff pastry strips around the burgers, leaving spaces to simulate the bandages on a mummy. Make sure to leave a small area free where the “eyes” will be placed.
6. Bake the mummies in a preheated oven at 180ºC for about 10-15 minutes or until the puff pastry turns golden brown.
7. As soon as they are baked, use a piece of black olive to make the eyes of the mummies by inserting them into the spaces left free in the puff pastry.
8. Serve the mummy burgers hot with ketchup or tomato sauce to taste.

Curiosity

This recipe is a lighthearted reinterpretation of the classic burger, and thanks to the puff pastry, lends itself to creative presentation and rich flavor. In Italy, it’s common to experiment with classics, and this is one of those variations that shows how food can be both nourishing and fun and theatrical.