Beef Burger Patties

Ingredients (makes 6 good sized burgers)

750g mince beef (Topside)
1 large brown onion, grated
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 or 2 minced chillies
1/4 cup chopped fresh continental parsley
1 cup breadcrumbs, made from day-old bread
2 egg whites lightly whisked
Salt & ground black pepper, to taste

if you are cooking for eating now you will need some buns and assorted stuff to garnish your burger I like sliced mature cheddar cheese, gherkins and tomatoes
the kids probably like KETCHUP and others will like lettuce, mayonnaise, pickles more burger etc...

The Plan of engagement.

Get all of your ingredients together before you start, last thing you need is to find out that the kids ate the bread dipped in the eggs for breakfast! You need your mince to be of good quality and of low fat content so I suggest Topside it has a great flavour and because it is low in fat it will not shrink too much and will most definitely not go rubbery. Breadcrumbs are really great as they extend the recipe but the also lighten the burger and give an even more tender texture which enhances the eating pleasure. The egg whites acts as a binding ingredient for easy shaping and holds them together while cooking........ OK so on with the show

Place the beef mince, onion, garlic Worcestershire sauce, minced chillies (If you like it spicy add more chillies) parsley, breadcrumbs and egg whites in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Get stuck in with your hands and mix and mash until evenly combined.

Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions Shape each portion with your hands into a patty about: 4 inches or 10cm in diameter and 1/2 inch or 1.5cm thick.

Place the patties onto a tray lined with greaseproof paper. Cover with foil and find room in the fridge for them for at least 30 minutes so that the ingredients can blend and the patties can rest and firm up before cooking.

Take a non stick frying pan and using olive oil over a low to medium heat cook the patties for about 4 minutes on each side or until browned and cooked through. Alternatively you can grill but this will take slightly longer. You must ensure that you cook burgers all the way through as the handling can introduce bacteria that you want to make sure is dead!!!

So now your burgers are cooked keep them warm and toast the inside of your buns and if your family is like mine let them make the combination they want.

Tip: To freeze, separate the patties with non-stick baking paper or freezer wrap, pack flat into freezer bags and seal. Freeze for as long as your freezer recommends and transfer to the fridge to defrost the evening before cooking.