Julia Child’s Panfried Thin Burgers recipe offers a delicious and straightforward approach to making classic American burgers. Using simple ingredients like ground beef, butter, and a touch of seasoning, it delivers a rich, flavorful bite in every mouthful. The technique of frying the patties in butter ensures a crisp exterior while keeping the inside juicy and tender.
What sets this recipe apart is the thinness of the burgers, which allows for a perfect balance between the meat and the caramelized crust. The key to success is cooking the burgers quickly over high heat to avoid overcooking. Julia’s method emphasizes the importance of quality meat and careful attention to timing, making this an ideal recipe for both beginners and seasoned cooks.
This dish epitomizes Julia Child’s signature style—simple yet refined cooking that brings out the best in basic ingredients. It’s a great choice for anyone looking to elevate their burger game without unnecessary complexity.
Julia Childs Panfried Thin Burgers Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallots
- 1 teaspoon butter or mild olive oil
- 1 to 1 1/4 pounds of fresh ground beef ideally with 15 to 20% fat content
- Salt to taste
- Freshly cracked pepper
Condiments:
- 1 red onion thinly sliced
- 1 tomato thinly sliced
- Iceberg lettuce leaves
- Small whole pickles
- Thin slices of Cheddar or Swiss cheese
- Crispy bacon strips
- Butter softened
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- Dijon mustard
- Salsa
- Potato chips
Instructions
- Sauté Shallots: In a small sauté pan, melt butter over high heat. Add the shallots and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Prepare Meat: Divide the meat into four equal portions. One at a time, gently press each portion down with your chef’s knife, spreading it out with light taps.
- Season Meat: Season each portion with salt, pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of the cooked shallots. Mix the shallots into the meat by chopping and turning it.
- Shape Patties: Shape the seasoned meat into 4 1/2 to 5-inch round patties, about 1/4-inch thick.
- Toast Buns: Toast the hamburger buns and set them aside for your guests.
- Prepare Buns for Toppings: Suggest that your guests add condiments or toppings to the bottom halves of their buns while you cook the burgers.
- Heat Pan: Lightly dust the surface of a large sauté pan with salt. Heat the pan until it is hot but not smoking.
- Cook Burgers: Place one patty in the pan, followed by a second patty. Allow the patties to brown for about 20 seconds.
- Flip Patties: Flip the patties and cook the other side for about 1 minute or until fully done.
- Repeat with Remaining Patties: Transfer the cooked burgers to a warm platter and repeat the process with the remaining two patties.
- Assemble Burgers: Place the finished burgers onto the toasted buns, allowing guests to add their preferred toppings to the top halves of the buns.
