Smash Burger

Burgers

• minced beef600 g
• burger buns4
• cheese slices8
• butter2 tbsp
• sunflower oil1 tbsp
• salt
• black pepper

To build

• gherkins
• white onion1
• mayonnaise3 tbsp
• tomato ketchup2 tbsp
• american mustard1 tbsp
• lettuce (optional)

Burgers

1. 01

   Divide the chilled minced beef, 20% fat, into eight loose balls, about 75 g each. Do not compact them — handle the mince as little as possible and keep it cold.

2. 02

   Mix the mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard for the sauce. Split the buns, spread the cut sides with softened butter and toast them face down in a dry pan until golden. Slice the gherkins, slice the onion very thinly and, if using, shred the lettuce.

3. 03

   Get a heavy pan or flat griddle as hot as it will go and add the oil. Put two balls in at a time and press each one flat and hard with a spatula for 10 seconds.

4. 04

   Season the tops with salt and freshly ground black pepper and cook for 90 seconds until the edges are dark and lacy. The crust that forms against the metal is the entire point, so resist moving them.

5. 05

   Flip, lay one of the American or mild cheddar cheese slices on each, and cook 30 seconds more, until the patties are cooked through with no pink left. Stack two patties per bun.

To build

6. 06

   Spread sauce on both halves of each bun, add the stacked patties, then the sliced gherkins, the very thinly sliced onion and the shredded lettuce. Eat immediately.