Zuni Cafés Hamburger Recipes

ZUNI CAFé'S RED ONION PICKLES

Steps:

• Make the brine: Combine vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice berries, chile, star anise, bay leaves and peppercorns in a 4-quart (or larger) nonreactive pot at least 10 inches in diameter. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Cover pot, turn off heat and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.
• Peel the onions, trim ends and slice crosswise into 3/8-inch thick slices. Separate into rings, discarding any green centers or leathery outer rings.
• Bring the brine back to a boil. Add onions and turn off heat. Stir with a wooden spoon to submerge onions. Leave to steep, covered, until mixture cools.
• Transfer onions and brine to pint jars and refrigerate for at least a day before serving.

ZUNI CAFé'S HAMBURGER

Steps:

• Cut meat into 1-inch chunks or strips. Sprinkle with salt, tossing to coat well, and refrigerate, covered, for about 8 hours or up to 24 hours.
• Assemble your meat grinder, using the grinder plate with 3/16-inch holes. Chill the grinder in a bowl of ice water for 30 minutes or refrigerate for several hours. With motor set to medium speed, drop cold meat into grinding tube and let the machine pull pieces through (resist forcing the meat through with pushing tool) into a chilled bowl. Grind the meat twice. (You may also hand-chop the meat in small batches or use a food processor with a very sharp blade, but the patties will be a bit more fragile.)
• Working quickly, form 6-ounce patties by hand, first making spheres, then flattening them to a 3/4-inch thickness. Press patties slightly thinner in the middle. (This ensures an even thickness in the finished burgers.) Keep patties refrigerated until ready to cook.
• If grilling, prepare your coals. Grill patties over medium-hot coals, flipping them three times to make sure they don't char. A cold 6-ounce patty will take about 9 minutes for a rosy medium-rare. Rest for 2 to 3 minutes off the heat, as you would a roast, before serving. If using a preheated cast-iron pan over medium heat, cook burgers for about 10 minutes, also flipping three times, plus resting.
• To serve, warm a piece of focaccia for each burger and split the bread horizontally. Smear the bottom half with a dab of aioli, the add lettuce leaves and the cooked burger. Top with the other half of the focaccia. Serve with zucchini pickles and red onion pickles.

ZUNI HAMBURGERS

Steps:

• Cut meat into 1-inch strips, and place in a medium bowl. Toss with salt, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 18 to 24 hours.
• Assemble a meat grinder with a 3/16-inch die and a sharp knife. Refrigerate grinder until thoroughly chilled (this will ensure proper texture and flavor).
• Pass meat through the grinder twice. On the first pass, pay special attention that the meat is emerging cleanly and evenly. If it isn't, turn the grinder off immediately, and remove and clean the blade and knife. Reinstall and finish grinding the meat. As an alternative to grinding the meat, you can finely chop it by hand or in a food processor with a very sharp blade, however, this will result in a more fragile burger.
• Working quickly, divide beef into four portions, and form into 3/4-inch-thick patties. Press patties a bit thinner in the center; the meat shrinks as it cooks and the patties will emerge an even thickness only if they start out thinner in the center. The patties may be made ahead up to this point and refrigerated, loosely covered, up to 12 hours ahead.
• To cook the hamburgers on the stovetop: Choose a skillet (preferably cast-iron) not much larger than will hold the patties. Heat the pan over medium heat until the meat sizzles on contact. Cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue to cook, flipping patties twice, 4 minutes more for medium-rare. Remove from heat, and let rest for 2 to 3 minutes before serving.
• Serve on foccacia with aioli and lettuce; serve pickles on the side.