KENJI'S BETTER BIG MAC

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Entered for safe-keeping. By Kenji López-Alt, Chief Creative Officer of Serious Eats, who sought to make a higher quality Big Mac, keeping the balance of tastes and small bun size, while omitting the long list of preservatives and thickeners. This is my kind of copycat - make it better, not the same! More at: http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2011/05/the-burger-lab-building-a-better-big-mac.html. Kenji uses the Wonderbread or Sunbeam bread for the small diameter and the squishiness. It may not be clear in the ingredients list but you need 1 1/2 buns: 1 top and 2 bottoms. This recipe calls for a meat grinder, a microwave, a refrigerator, a toaster oven or broiler and a stove-top.

Provided by KateL

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 45m

Yield 1 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 18

3 1/4 ounces boneless beef short ribs, well-chilled
1/4 cup onion, finely minced
1 teaspoon onion, grated on a Microplane grater
1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon vegemite or 1/4 teaspoon maggi seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 egg white
1 whole hamburger bun (Wonderbread or Sunbeam)
1 bottom-half hamburger bun (Wonderbread or Sunbeam)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/4 cup iceberg lettuce, shredded
4 dill pickle slices
kosher salt, to taste
fresh ground black pepper
1 slice top-quality American cheese (such as Boar's Head or Land O' Lakes)

Steps:

  • PATTIES.
  • Pass beef through meat grinder fitted with 1/4-inch plate twice. Form into 2 even balls and flatten into 4-inch patties using wet hands against a cutting board.
  • Scrape patties up with thin spatula and place on a sheet of parchment paper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Place the 1/4 cup minced onion on a double layer of paper towels on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 10 minutes on LOW power (setting 1 or 2) until mostly dehydrated, but not browned. Set aside.
  • SAUCE.
  • While onion is dehydrating, combine grated onion, mayonnaise, relish, mustard, sugar, marmite and turmeric. Stir to combine and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • BUNS.
  • Preheat toaster oven or broiler to high.
  • Use one finger to spread a very thin layer of egg white over the top of the top bun. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and place under the broiler for 30 seconds until set. Set aside.
  • Use a sharp, thin knife to cut off the very bottom of the bottom bun half, creating a single circular piece of bread with cut surfaces on both sides.
  • Toast cut side of top bun and bottom bun, and one side of center bun piece under broiler until light golden brown.
  • BEGIN ASSEMBLY AND COOK PATTIES.
  • Place bottom bun and center bun on cutting board toasted-side up.
  • Spread half of sauce on each.
  • Divide dehydrated onions evenly between bottom and center buns and top with lettuce. Place 2 pickle slices on each.
  • Season burger patties with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Heat a heavy-bottomed 10-inch stainless steel or cast iron skillet over high heat until lightly smoking.
  • Add patties and cook WITHOUT MOVING until first side is crusty and browned, about 1 minute.
  • Scrape up patties with a stiff spatula and flip.
  • Top 1 patty with 1 slice cheese.
  • Continue cooking until cooked through, about 1 minute longer.
  • Transfer cheese-topped patty to bottom bun and cheeseless patty to middle bun.
  • Place top bun on top of center, then stack center bun on top of bottom.
  • Serve immediately.

Adriana Harmen
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This recipe is a keeper! I'll definitely be making this again and again.


Sushma Shrestha
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I was pleasantly surprised by how easy this recipe was to follow. I'm not a very experienced cook, but I was able to make these burgers without any problems. The results were amazing and my family loved them.


ayrinakter rimu
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This recipe is a great way to satisfy your Big Mac craving without having to go to McDonald's. The burgers are delicious and the sauce is perfect. I highly recommend this recipe.


Md atik hasan Sourav
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I've tried several copycat Big Mac recipes, but this one is by far the best. The patties are juicy and flavorful, the sauce is spot-on, and the overall taste is just like the real thing.


Godwin Mutai
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I made this recipe for my kids and they loved it! They said it was the best burger they've ever had. The recipe is easy to follow and the results are amazing. I'll definitely be making this again.


Ch Zulqarnain
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This recipe is a bit time-consuming, but it's worth it. The burgers are so delicious and the sauce is perfect. I love that I can make this at home and know exactly what's in it.


Chandramayni Chandra
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I was skeptical that a homemade Big Mac could be as good as the real thing, but I was wrong! This recipe is amazing. The burgers are juicy and flavorful, the sauce is perfect, and the overall taste is just like the real thing. I'll definitely be maki


NP Sushant
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This recipe is a game-changer! I've been searching for a copycat Big Mac recipe that actually tastes like the real thing, and this is it. The patties are perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the sauce is spot-on. I'll never go back to McDonald's again!


Abdullah RAJJPOT
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I've made this recipe several times now and it's always a winner. The patties are so juicy and flavorful, and the sauce is perfect. I love that I can make this at home and it tastes just as good as the burgers from McDonald's.


Abigail Ntyibontyi
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I made this recipe for a party and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved the burgers and couldn't believe they were homemade. The recipe is easy to follow and the results are amazing.


Jacob Lundgren
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Kenji's Better Big Mac is the best copycat recipe I've tried! The patties are juicy and flavorful, the sauce is spot-on, and the overall taste is just like the real thing. I'll definitely be making this again.


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