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A burger on a plate

Homemade Big Macs

A recipe for homemade Big-Mac-inspired smash burgers, created by the Burnbrae Culinary Academy at Toronto's Royal Winter Fair.
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Ingredients

Burgers

  • 1 lb (500 g) medium ground beef
  • salt and pepper
  • 8 slices cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup butter divided
  • 4 sesame seed buns cut horizontally into thirds
  • ½ cup minced white onion
  • 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
  • 2 dill pickles thinly sliced into rounds (16 to 24 slices)

'Mac' Sauce

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup minced dill pickle
  • 2 tbsp minced white onion
  • 2 tbsp prepared yellow mustard
  • 4 tsp pickle juice or white wine vinegar
  • 4 tsp ketchup
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • salt and pepper

Instructions
 

  • Divide the ground beef into 8 equal portions and loosely shape into balls. Place on a tray; cover and refrigerate while preparing remaining ingredients.
  • Combine mayonnaise, minced pickle, onion, mustard, pickle juice, ketchup, paprika and garlic powder in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
  • Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Place 1 ball of meat in the pan, off centre, and quickly smash it firmly with a flat metal spatula or burger press until it is about 1⁄4 inch (5 mm) thick. Repeat with 1 to 3 more balls, as the size of the skillet allows. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes, until the edges are browned and crispy. Flip the patties, season with salt and pepper and lay a cheese slice on each. Cook for 1 minute more, or until browned and cooked to 160°F (71°C) doneness at the least. Transfer to plate and set aside to rest. Repeat with remaining beef.
  • Drain any excess fat from pan and discard. Return skillet to medium-high. Melt 1 tbsp of the butter and arrange one of the buns, cut-side down, to toast until just golden, flipping the middle slice to toast on the other side. Set aside. Repeat with remaining butter and buns.
  • To assemble, for each burger, place bottom bun on a plate. Spread with "Mac" Sauce, sprinkle with 1 tbsp of onion, 1⁄4 cup lettuce, 1 patty with cheese facing down, then 3 pickles. Top with middle bun and repeat topping with 'Mac' Sauce, onion, lettuce, burger patty and pickles. Drizzle with remaining sauce and sandwich with the top bun and give it a squeeze.