Hamburgers, learn all about the queens of fast food

Although it is known worldwide, today we want to know more about this fast food icon. However, it can also become a very healthy dish if we know how to prepare it. We are talking about hamburgers, a simple dish that is as versatile as it is well-known and delicious. And that, in addition, although we do not believe it, has centuries and centuries of history, as we will see below. Join us to learn more about hamburgers, that dish so appreciated by so many around the world.

What is hamburgers?

We call hamburger both the meat itself and the complete preparation, which is served between two buns. But let’s start with the first one. The hamburger meat consists, normally, of a round and slightly thick fillet of minced beef. Although, as we were saying, nowadays we can find hamburgers of all kinds, even vegetables or fish.

Afterwards, this meat is included between two buns, in addition to being accompanied with all kinds of toppings. The most popular toppings are lettuce, natural tomato, cheese and sauces.
Cheese is such a popular accompaniment that it even has its own name: the Cheeseburger is very popular. And yet, it is one of the most recent ones, since cheese was not added until 1976.

As you can see, this food is very versatile and we can find all kinds of recipes to make hamburgers. This is due to the fact that it is a very popular and well-known dish all over the world. This has favored that in each place different versions of this dish are created. And, although it is a very popular food in fast food restaurants and we link it unconsciously with fast food, we can also find hamburgers in the best haute cuisine restaurants. You will even see a multitude of hamburger recipes that are really healthy and suitable for any diet.

History and Origin

Although we have already seen in detail the history of hamburgers, we are going to remember it in a more summarized way. For, as we mentioned, it is a food that already has centuries and centuries of history, although we believe that it is relatively recent. In the Ancient Roman Empire we can already find what could be the primitive hamburgers, back in the 1st century. However, it was nothing like what we know today as a hamburger. We are referring to the meat itself.

In the book “De re coquinaria”, by the Roman gastronome Marcus Gavius Apiciusen, we find a preparation consisting of minced beef, which was accompanied with pine nuts and wine. But, in addition, it was served in a kind of pie. So it did not even lack bread. It was more complete than we imagine.

From here, we jump to the 12th century, a time when the Mongolian Empire elaborated Steak Tartar, also known as steak tartare. Which was minced meat, raw, marinated with different ingredients. They needed a nutritious food that was easy to transport and consume and that could be preserved in perfect conditions.

The Steak Tartar entered Russia, and from there to Germany, where we can say that the hamburgers begins to take shape as we know it today. It would be by the 19th century, and received the name of Hamburgh steak. It consisted of minced beef, seasoned and molded in the shape of a steak, which was then cooked and served between two slices of bread. Although the toppings were still missing.

But this is not the end of its journey, as it still has to reach the United States, where the recipe will be modified until it reaches the exact hamburger as we know it today.

How to make the Perfect Burger

Now that we have seen what it consists of, as well as its history and where it comes from; let’s see how to make the perfect hamburger ourselves. Because, although we can find them in a multitude of bars and restaurants of all kinds, undoubtedly, making it at home is a marvel. Besides, we can let our imagination run wild and make burgers of all kinds, with all kinds of toppings and all kinds of accompaniments. Later on we will show you some ideas so that you can make your favorite combinations and never lack ideas. But, first, let’s take a look at some tips and tricks to make the perfect burger:

• If your hamburger is made of meat, choose fresh and quality minced meat. You will notice it greatly in the flavor. It is also recommended that the proportion be 80% lean meat and 20% fat, to obtain a juicy and tender hamburger.
• Do not handle the meat excessively, or you run the risk of making it too compact, resulting in a very heavy and dry hamburger. Avoid over-kneading the meat.
• Cooking is fundamental to obtain a perfect hamburger. Take care of the time, the power of the fire, etc. If you want a tender and juicy hamburger, cook at medium-high heat, so that it is well done on the outside, golden and crispy, and very tender on the inside. Although, as everything is a matter of taste, if you prefer it well done, cook it at a lower heat and for a longer time.

Never press the hamburger meat during cooking! This will cause it to release all its juices, resulting in a drier hamburger with a worse texture.

• And finally, do not serve the burgers immediately after cooking. Let them rest for a few minutes to allow the meat juices to distribute, resulting in a juicier, more flavorful burger.

Does the hamburgers shrink when cooked? If, when you cook the meat, it shrinks and becomes more like a ball, make a small hole in the center, pressing with your finger. This way, as it shrinks slightly, it will keep the original hamburger shape and will not become a sphere. This will also help it to cook properly on the inside.

Hamburgers ingredients

This is where we can elaborate more. Well, there are thousands of ingredients that can be used in hamburgers. In addition, it will depend on the area, because as we said, each place has its own ingredients and customs when it comes to preparing a hamburger. Therefore, we have tried to compile as many as possible in this magnificent image where, at a glance, you can choose from a multitude of ingredients to achieve your favorite combination.

Even so, let’s see in a little more detail the ingredients that we can include:

• The meat. To elaborate the perfect hamburger the first thing we have to take into account is the meat, since it is the main ingredient of the hamburger. (Although we refer to the meat of the hamburger, remember that you can elaborate it with fish or vegetable, in addition to using any type of meat). Whichever option you choose, it is essential that they are quality ingredients, fresh and full of flavor.
• And, to add even more flavor, season the mixture with your favorite ingredients.
• The bun. To get the perfect hamburger, it will not be enough with just any bread. We must take care of this detail and get a tender, fresh and full of flavor bun. If you want to give it a crunchy touch, toast it lightly on the inside.
• Cheese is also fundamental for a hamburger. Regardless of the ingredients you use to prepare your hamburger, cheese is a must. It will give juiciness and an extra touch of flavor to your burger.
• Don’t forget the sauce! You can use the one you like the most. You can even combine them as you like.
• And finally, the toppings. Later we will give you many options for toppings for your burgers. Because we have plenty of options to accompany our burger.

So, what types of hamburgers can we find?

After seeing so many options for the ingredients of our burgers, maybe you have more doubts about how to prepare yours. If so, take a look at these most common types of burgers:

• Classic Burger: made with beef, cooked on the grill or griddle. This burger is served between two buns and includes lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and sauces (the classic American hamburger).
• Cheeseburger, similar to the previous preparation, but with melted cheese on the hamburger meat.
• Chicken, also a classic. To make a chicken burger we can either chop the meat and make the burger; or we can make it directly with a chicken fillet, grilled, fried or even breaded.
• Vegetarian or vegan hamburgers. Within this type of hamburgers we find infinity of different variants. As long as you do not include animal meat or products derived from them, you will have a great vegetarian hamburger ready.
• Gourmet Burger. Include more sophisticated ingredients to make your own gourmet burger. For example, use high-quality beef (such as Angus or Kobe) and combine it with unique flavors. Such as goat cheese, caramelized onion, foie…

Some ideas for side dishes

Although the hamburger is a very complete dish by itself, we can always include some garnish. In fact, some of them are inseparable from this dish. Let’s take a look at them:

• And, if we think of hamburgers, we automatically think of fries. They are an inseparable part of this dish.
• With baked or mashed potatoes. Any option that includes potatoes will go very well with our hamburger.
• With onion rings, also a classic garnish.
• Salad, if we want a lighter side dish.
• With coleslaw, very typical of America.

We could include a multitude of other elaborations. But these are the most typical ones. Remember that in the kitchen it is all about imagination. So you can serve your hamburger with many other garnishes. For example, guacamole, any sautéed or grilled vegetables, with grilled corn if you have prepared your hamburger this way…

Types of hamburgers around the world

As we were saying, the hamburger is a worldwide known preparation. Moreover, its history goes halfway around the world until it reaches the cradle of the hamburger, the United States. It is for this reason, and thanks to its great versatility, that we can find different types according to the gastronomy of each country. Let’s take a look at some of these typical hamburgers from different countries.

1. We cannot start with any other place than the United States, where hamburgers are an icon of its gastronomy. The most typical preparation here includes beef, in a hamburger bun, and is accompanied by lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and sauces such as ketchup and mustard. Surely, when you saw its ingredients, you realized that it is the most traditional hamburger. The one we all know.
   Although they also have very popular elaborations, such as the classic Cheeseburger, or cheeseburger.
2. Germany, the place from where it is believed that the elaboration of meat that resulted in the current hamburger, as we know it today, arrived in the United States. Here we find the Frikadelle burger, or Bulette, very similar to the hamburger, but made with seasoned and spiced pork or beef.
3. Australian Burger, or the Australian version. Known there as Aussie Burger, it includes among its ingredients beet, pineapple, fried egg, cheddar, lettuce and tomato. A delicious combination full of flavors and colors.
4. The Mexican hamburger is characterized by including guacamole, beans, jalapenos and hot sauce. In addition, the meat is usually mixed with chorizo.
5. India, a place where cows are sacred, also has its own hamburger. Known as vada pav, it is a fried ball of spiced potato dough, which is served in a bun and accompanied with a typical Indian sauce, tamarind and coriander chutney. It is a totally vegetarian dish.
6. And we finish with the specialty of Japan, known as hambagu. It consists of minced beef, mixed with onion, breadcrumbs, egg and spices. It is served with a sauce and is usually accompanied with rice.

But are hamburgers healthy?

Although it is an icon of fast food and junk food, due to the fact that its fame and popularity comes from some of these popular chains, the truth is that a hamburger can be very healthy if we choose the right ingredients.

We all know that commercial hamburgers are high in saturated fat and calories. At the same time they contain huge amounts of additives and preservatives, which are not healthy for our organism. However, any hamburger that we prepare ourselves at home will be much healthier.

If, in addition, we prepare it so that it is a light dish, elaborating a hamburger, for example, vegetable, using integral bread, and accompanying it with fresh and healthy ingredients, it will be a very beneficial dish for us.

Some curiosities about hamburgers

Being a food so appreciated and known worldwide, there are many curiosities around this food. Let’s see some of them:

• The world’s largest hamburger was prepared in 1982, in Michigan, United States. It weighed more than 3,700 kilos and was used to feed thousands and thousands of people at a festival.
• And from the world’s largest hamburger we move on to the most expensive. Known as “The FleurBurger 5000”, it was made by the Fleur de Lys restaurant in Las Vegas, also in the United States. Its price was around $5,000.
• Did you know that the name hamburger comes from the city of Hamburg, Germany? According to the history of the hamburger, it was German sailors who brought the custom of eating spiced ground beef, shaped like hamburger meat, to the United States.

Celebrations and Events

As it is such a consumed food, there are many celebrations around hamburgers. There are many anniversaries, festivals, fairs, and dates marked to commemorate them. Let’s take a look at some of them:

• May 28, Hamburger Day, National Hamburger Day in the United States. A date marked to honor and promote, even more, this recipe. In addition, on this day, many restaurants offer discounts on this food.
• Cheeseburger Day, or Cheeseburger, is celebrated every September 18. Even this type of burger has its own date.
• Burger Week, in many other cities, such as Montreal, Toronto, Denver… Burger Week takes place.
• Other contests and festivals. In other places they organize contests to find the best hamburger. Or different festivals where they have discounts and offers on hamburgers to promote it even more. Well, especially in the United States, where it is an icon, there are many celebrations of this type.
• It celebrates, every May 28th, the Hamburger Day, one of the most delicious events of the year.

And with this, although we do not leave many things in the pipeline, we finish knowing the hamburgers, this popular dish so appreciated around the world. And you, how do you usually prepare this recipe? What are your favorite ingredients? If you liked it, don’t forget to leave us your comments, ideas, tips… We love to read them! And also remember that you can follow us on social networks to keep up to date with all our publications. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

See you next time!