Aussie Burger

In the land that brought us the platypus, is it any surprise that an ordinary burger would evolve into something completely over-the-top? The Aussie burger sets off the patty itself with a sweet, crunchy slice of pineapple and the slightly sharper tang of marinated beets, and tops everything off with a creamy fried egg. It’s an unusual combination, but try just one bite and you’ll be hooked – really! The burger itself is good, but the toppings really put it in a league of its own.

If you like a little spice on top of all that, you can also make a quick fiery mayonnaise by mixing ¼ cup of homemade mayo with 1 tsp. of hot sauce. And don’t be shy about adding extra toppings; pile on the lettuce, tomatoes, onions, or whatever else sounds tasty. The only limit is your imagination – and how much you can physically fit on top of the patty!

You can wrap the whole affair in a lettuce bun to contain it, but even with a wrapper, chowing down on an Aussie burger can get a little messy; it might be easier to just serve everything on a plate. Either way, though, it’s a memorable barbecue-party creation, and sure to become a summer classic.

Aussie Burger Recipe

SERVES: 4 PREP: 15 min. COOK: 15 min.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. ground beef;
• 1 red onion, finely chopped;
• 3 garlic cloves, minced;
• 1 egg yolk;
• 6 slices fresh pineapple;
• 6 eggs;
• 12 slices marinated beets;
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper;

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, red onion, garlic, egg yolk, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Form six patties out of the beef mixture.
3. Cook the patties on a grill or BBQ for 5 to 6 minutes per side over a medium-high heat.
4. Grill the pineapple for 1 to 2 minutes per side.
5. Melt some cooking fat in a skillet placed over a medium-high heat and fry the eggs.

To assemble the burgers, top each patty with the grilled pineapple, beet slices, fried eggs, and any other toppings you want.