Cheeseburger with French Fries

Cheeseburger with French Fries

Ingredients (for 2 burgers)

For the burgers

• 2 large Burger Buns
• 500g of Ground Beef
• 1 Yellow Onion
• 4 slices of American Cheese
• Salt
• Pepper

For the French Fries

• 1kg Potatoes
• 1tbsp Baking Soda
• 1.5L Vegetable Oil for frying
• White Wine Vinegar
• Kitchen thermometer

For the burger sauce

• Ketchup
• Mayonnaise
• 1 pickled Gherkin

How to make it

The French Fries

1. Start with the french fries as they take the longest to make (roughly 2h).
2. Peel the potatoes with a potato peeler and cut them into strips equal in width and depth (you know, potato shaped).
3. Prepare a large pot with water, a bit of white wine vinegar, salt and baking soda. Bring to a boil.
4. Add the fries and cook for 7 to 8 minutes.
5. Take them out and let them cool, preferably on a wire rack.
6. Prepare a large pot with 1.5L of cooking oil, heat it to 150C (300F), constantly monitor with the thermometer.
7. Add the fries, in batches of roughly ten (the more you add, the more the temperature of the oil will drop, frying in small batches gives more control and is much safer).
8. Fry them for 4 to 5 minutes (they should be firm but not have color).
9. Take them out and let them dry on paper towel to get rid of access oil.
10. When all batches are fried, put the fries into the freezer for at least 30 minutes, but they can stay frozen until you need them in the future.
11. Heat a pot with 1.5L of oil to 180C (360F).
12. Add the frozen fries in batches of 10 and fry them for 2 to 4 minutes, until golden brown.
13. Take them out and put into a metal bowl, add salt and toss until evenly coated.

The Burger Sauce

1. Mix equal parts of ketchup and mayo in a bowl.
2. Add a finely chopped gherkin.

The Burgers

1. Cut the buns in half and toast them in a a hot skillet, start with the inside, outside and add a bit of vegetable oil to the inside before putting the side down again.
2. Toast until golden brown.
3. Split the ground beef into 4 equal parts of roughly 125g each and form them into baseball sized balls of beef.
4. Heat a skillet to very high heat, preferably the same used to toast the buns.
5. Add a bit of vegetable oil and smash the beef balls into the pan until they resemble a thin patty.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Let cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until a nice brown colour rises around the corners.
8. Chop the onion roughly and add onto the patties.
9. Press down the onion with the spatula.
10. Flip the patties and let cook for another 2 minutes.
11. Add a slice of American can cheese on each one and let it melt.
12. Take the patties out of the skillet and stack on top of each other (should the burger not be served immediately, wrap the patties in aluminium foil to keep them warm).
13. Assemble the burger, use a bit of the burger sauce on the bottom (spread with a spoon), add the two patties and put on the lid
14. Serve with a side of french fries.
15. Enjoy!