Sandwich Week - Day 3: The Australian Hamburger

When we lived in Australia for 5 months in 2007-2008, we tried a lot of interesting foods.  Nothing was really much different than back here in the States, but just maybe a little 'quirkier'.  Obviously a lot of English influences and dishes like bangers and mash, meatpies and the Australian Hamburger, made with pickled beets, a fried egg, bacon, fried onion, cheese (they did not have American cheese in Oz, obviously; the Australians called the smooth and creamy cheese 'tasty cheese', and finally a pineapple ring.  Quite interesting.  Top it off with tomato sauce (aka ketchup) and you have a really messy but very tasty Aussie Works Burger.

Since today was one of our first days of spring and sunshine, we decided to fire up the grill and make some burgers and brats.  I was the only one, sad to say, that had the Aussie version. 

Good On Ya,

Foodie Mama

Australian Burger - serves 4

1 pound ground beef

1 large onion, sliced
4 eggs
4 slices bacon (optional)
4 pineapple rings (optional)
4 slices tasty cheese
1 (8.25 ounce) can sliced beets, drained
4 slices of tomato (optional)
4 lettuce leaves (optional)
ketchup (optional)
yellow mustard (optional)
dill pickle relish (optional)
mayonnaise (optional)
4 Kaiser rolls, split, toasted and buttered

Directions

1. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.
2. When the grill is ready, form the ground beef into four patties, and grill for 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, and fry until soft. Remove the onions from the skillet, and crack the eggs in the same skillet over medium heat. Cook until the yolks are solid, turning over once. Remove eggs, and set aside. Place the bacon in the same skillet, and fry until toasted. Remove the bacon, and turn the heat to high. Quickly fry the pineapple rings in the bacon drippings just until browned on each side.
4. To Assemble sandwiches: Set bottom of kaiser roll on a plate, and top with burger, a slice of cheese, a slice of bacon, one fried egg, fried onions, a few slices of beet, a slice of pineapple, a slice of tomato, and a leaf of lettuce. Decorate the top bun with ketchup, mustard, relish and mayonnaise as desired. Place over the burger. Repeat with remaining burgers.



The Purest Version (sans the optional ingredients)




Crikey!




Will with his burger and hot dog.  Happy Spring!