‘21’ Club Hamburger

Name: ‘21’ Club Hamburger
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: makes 4 Burgers
Ingredients: 2 lb. ground beef; 1 ⁄ 4 cup minced yellow onion; 2 tsp. minced fresh thyme; 1 tsp. ground black pepper; 1 tsp. minced fresh rosemary; 1 ⁄ 4 tsp. ground coriander; 1 ⁄ 4 tsp. ground fennel seed; 1 ⁄ 8 tsp. cayenne; 1 egg, lightly beaten; 2-3 tbsp. melted duck fat, at room temperature (optional); Kosher salt, to taste; 4 hamburger buns, toasted

Serves
makes 4 Burgers

ANDRÉ BARANOWSKI

John Greeley, the chef at the '21' Club in New York City, grinds beef chuck and beef round with a couple of tablespoons of duck fat to make this tasty burger. Store-bought ground beef is a fine substitute.

Ingredients

2 lb. ground beef
¹⁄₄ cup minced yellow onion
2 tsp. minced fresh thyme
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. minced fresh rosemary
¹⁄₄ tsp. ground coriander
¹⁄₄ tsp. ground fennel seed
¹⁄₈ tsp. cayenne
1 egg, lightly beaten
2-3 tbsp. melted duck fat, at room temperature (optional)
Kosher salt, to taste
4 hamburger buns, toasted

ADVERTISEMENTAD

Instructions

Step 1

In a large bowl, gently mix together the beef, onions, thyme, pepper, rosemary, coriander, fennel, cayenne, egg, and fat. Season with salt. Divide the meat into 4 portions; shape them into 1"-thick patties. Wrap patties in plastic wrap; refrigerate until cold. This will help to firm them up, as they're moister than most burgers owing to the addition of the duck fat and the egg.

Step 2

Prepare a medium-hot charcoal fire or heat a gas grill to medium-high (or heat a tablespoon of canola oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat). Cook burgers, flipping once, until cooked to desired doneness, about 12 minutes total for medium rare. Serve on buns.

In a large bowl, gently mix together the beef, onions, thyme, pepper, rosemary, coriander, fennel, cayenne, egg, and fat. Season with salt. Divide the meat into 4 portions; shape them into 1"-thick patties. Wrap patties in plastic wrap; refrigerate until cold. This will help to firm them up, as they're moister than most burgers owing to the addition of the duck fat and the egg.
Prepare a medium-hot charcoal fire or heat a gas grill to medium-high (or heat a tablespoon of canola oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat). Cook burgers, flipping once, until cooked to desired doneness, about 12 minutes total for medium rare. Serve on buns.

Pairing Note The Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($42), from the Napa Valley, has layers of ripe red fruit and earth that nicely complement this classic burger. —Ania Zawieja