Wagyu dirty burger

I’ve never been one to go a burger with the lot — I say no to beetroot, pineapple and a fried egg. Everyone has their own opinion about what makes the best burger, and although this wagyu dirty burger might not be the most attractive one out there, it sure hits all the right spots. Sometimes you just can’t beat juicy meat covered in crisp bacon, melted cheese and topped with some delicious sweet and sticky homemade chilli onion jam. Just add fries on the side for the complete Man Food meal.

INGREDIENTS

800g minced wagyu beef, (see note)

1 tablespoon onion powder

2 teaspoons salt

pinch freshly ground black pepper

8 slices cheddar cheese

4 bacon slices

4 brioche burger buns, halved and toasted

60g iceberg lettuce, shredded

french fries, to serve

CHILLI ONION JAM

60ml olive oil

6 onions, thinly sliced

2 long red chillies, seeded and thinly sliced

60ml white vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

60ml smoky barbecue ketchup

pinch cayenne pepper

METHOD

To make the chilli onion jam, heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium–low heat. Add the onion and chilli, cook for 45–60 minutes, until the onion has softened and turned golden brown. Stir occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn’t catch on the base of the saucepan and burn. Add the vinegar, 60 ml water, sugar and salt, then stir and simmer until the mixture thickens again, about 10 minutes. Add the barbecue sauce and cayenne pepper, stir for another 10 minutes, then turn off the heat and let it cool completely. Makes about 200 g.

Mix the beef, onion powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl until just combined. Do not overmix. Form into four patties of even size and thickness.

Heat a barbecue or large grill pan to high heat.

Place the patties on the hotplate, then press your thumb on the centre of the patties, as this will prevent shrinkage. For medium–rare, cook the patties for 3 minutes, flip over, top each with 2 slices of cheese and cook for a further 3 minutes. At the same time, cook the bacon until crisp then place it on top of the cheesy patties and remove from the heat.

Place a handful of lettuce on each bun base, then the patty. Top with chilli onion jam and sandwich with the bun tops. Serve with fries on the side.

NOTE:

You can usually find wagyu at your local butcher — the good ones will grind it for you. Alternatively, use the best-quality minced beef with a high fat content for this recipe, such as Angus beef.

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