Burgers don't have to be boring! Here are 10 interesting and tasty burger recipes that you can easily make at home.
Thai-flavoured tofu burgers
For this spicy vegetarian burger, drain a 280g pack of tofu and crumble into a bowl. Add an egg, 2-3 teaspoons of red or green Thai curry paste, 1 tablespoon cornflour and 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander. Form into small patties, dust with flour and fry in a little oil, for 3-4 minutes on each side. Spread chilli jam or dipping sauce over one half of a small bread roll and scatter with coriander leaves. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.
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Mushroom and Stilton burger
Mushrooms have an almost meaty texture when lightly cooked. Remove the stalk from a large, flat mushroom and scatter one chopped garlic clove, a little salt and a drizzle of olive oil on the dark underside. Top with some crumbled Stilton cheese and place under a grill for 6-9 minutes, until the mushroom has softened and the cheese has melted. Place in a burger bun, with rocket, mayonnaise and a couple of onion rings.
Classic beef burger with special mayo
Place 340g minced beef in a bowl, crack in an egg and mix, forming four patties. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Fry in a dry, non-stick pan for 4-5 minutes on each side, until cooked through. Meanwhile, mix together 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon tomato ketchup and 1 small gherkin, chopped finely. Split a sesame seed bun, smear with the sauce and slide in the burger — along with shredded iceberg lettuce and slices of tomato.
Spanish-style beef and chorizo burger
This burger is flavoured with sweet, smoky chorizo. Make the beefburgers as before, but add in 50g finely chopped chorizo to the raw mixture. Form into patties, drizzle with oil and cook as before, serving in a ciabatta roll with rocket, mayonnaise and a thin slice of Manchego cheese.
Gorgonzola and bacon burger
Make a simple but tangy blue cheese mayonnaise - great with beef. With a fork, mash together 2 heaped tablespoons of sour cream, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 30g Gorgonzola (or other blue cheese) and snip in a few chives. Add salt and pepper to taste and spread over the bottom half of a burger bun. Top with shredded lettuce, a cooked beef burger, a slice of grilled smoked bacon and a few small chunks of blue cheese. Top with a slice of tomato and the other half of the bun.
Mexican-style beef burger
This burger is studded with spicy jalapeño chilli. Take out 4-5 jalapeño slices from a jar and chop finely. Add these to the raw burger mixture. Form into patties and cook as usual. Place in a burger bun, with tangy salsa, peppery rocket leaves and a spoonful of home made guacamole. Top with a slice of mild Cheddar.
Fish burger
Make fish burgers, using sustainable fish such as hake, pollock or whiting. Just grill or bake a breaded fish fillet and cut in half. Slide into a floury bap while still hot, along with some tartare sauce and slices of crunchy iceberg lettuce. Serve with a lemon wedge, fries and coleslaw on the side.
Curry burger
This one's for curry lovers: stir a couple of teaspoons of your favourite curry paste per 200g of meat mixture before cooking. The result is fairly mild, so you can experiment with spicier pastes if you wish. Slide the cooked burger into a burger bun spread with mayonnaise or raita, along with baby spinach leaves and fresh coriander. This recipe works especially well with minced lamb or beef.
Lamb, goat's cheese and red onion burger
Peel and slice one small red onion and fry in a little olive oil until soft. Meanwhile, mix 400g of lamb mince with one egg, and ½ teaspoon ground cumin. Form into burgers, drizzle with olive oil and season. Cook in a dry, non-stick pan for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Serve in a bun with rocket, garlic mayonnaise and a slice of goat's cheese. Place a tangle of the red onions on top to finish it off.
Italian-style chicken fillet burger
This burger is full of classic Italian flavours. Take two chicken breasts (for four people) and cut each one in half. Lay the chicken breasts over a sheet of cling film and cover with another sheet of cling film. With a rolling pin, flatten each breast fillet. Dip each piece of chicken in beaten egg and then breadcrumbs and fry for a few minutes on each side, until cooked and crisp. Meanwhile, mix 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 3 teaspoons fresh pesto and 2 tablespoons mayonnaise. Spread over the bottom half of a ciabatta roll and fill with the chicken, grilled prosciutto, rocket leaves and tomato. Spear with a co*cktail stick threaded with an olive as a garnish.
What are your favourite burgers? Do you make burgers at home?
