The Salted Cod’s attempt at the Shack Burger

If you have been to New York you have probably tried the famous Shake Shack and its equally famous shack burger.
This summer I was lucky enough to try the shack burger and became instantly hooked! Back home I tried to create many american-style burgers, but none came even close. As often happens I took it to google and actually found a guy who dedicates his life to cooking and burgers more specifically, and actually went out to find this recipe. Kenji Lopéz-Alt writes the Burger Lab features, providing loads of recipes for amazing burgers (yes I want to work for them too) which is part of Serious Eats, an amazing website for anyone who loves food (if you’re travelling anywhere in the States make sure you check their recommendations before leaving).

Like him I am a huge fan of the burger, especially its sauce. It’s mayo based, but it’s sweet, sour and smoky at the same time. This guy actually asked the people at Shake Shack and they gave him the recipe. So, I present you, the recipe to one of the best burgers ever! (and I have tried many..)

You will need, for the sauce:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 4 slices of pickle (yes you heard it right…if you don’t have this replace it with some pickle relish like Branston).
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• Pinch cayenne pepper, or some chilli sauce you might have.

Mix all the ingredients in a blender and voila! Put it in the fridge until you’re going to use it.

And for the burger:

• Half a kilo of good quality beef mince (this is no time for Tesco value).
• Your choice of buns (white with no seeds will make it more authentic).
• Cheap-looks-like-plastic-american-style cheese (and here Tesco value is your friend).
• Lettuce
• Tomato, sliced
• Salt & Pepper

Start by forming the patties into smallish but thick round disks. Put them in the fridge while you prepare the buns.

Slice open the buns, spread some butter on them and toast them under the grill. When they start to look golden, take them out and spread some of that amazing sauce on both sides. Now heat up some vegetable oil in a frying pan until really hot. Fry the burger on one side until slightly charred (more or less 2 minutes), flip it, season with salt and pepper and keep cooking for a further 2 minutes or until it feels cooked (you want your burger medium…hence not using tesco value). In the last minute of cooking flatten the burger with a spatula, slap that cheap cheese on it and wait for it to melt. Transfer the burgers into the buns, cover with some lettuce and tomate (and some extra sauce).

Enjoy one of the best burgers of your life.

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