Now This Is a Burgher!

Pittsburghers love their sandwiches big and piled high… and a burger is no exception.That’s why this is a Burgher with an H because it’s Hefty and Heaped High for Hungry people. Plus it’s made with Homemade steak sauce. Jeet yet? (That’s Pittsburghese for “Did you eat yet?”)

Ingredients:

Spice Mix:
1 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoon dried chopped onions
1 1/2 teaspoon dried garlic slices (or flakes)
1 Tablespoon coarse sea salt (may substitute fine ground sea salt, or kosher salt but add after grinding other spices)
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
2 Lbs ground chuck
Homemade Steak Sauce:
1/3 Cup ketchup
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 Tablespoon Grey Poupon mustard
1 Tablespoon prepared horseradish
1/2 Teaspoon liquid smoke
1 Cup olive oil
1/4 Cup all purpose flour (plus 1 tsp of reserved spice mixture)
1 medium sweet onion, sliced and separated into slivers
6 Dill pickle slices, sandwich style, drained and dried
Vegetable oil for grill
6 Slices brick cheese
6 Lettuce leaves, washed and dried (Green or red leaf lettuce)
6 Whole wheat hamburger buns

Instructions:

1. Preheat grill to medium high. Place cast iron frying pan on grill to preheat as well.
2. Place spice ingredients into a small coffee or spice grinder and grind coarsely by briefly pulsing. Reserve 2 tablespoons for ground beef and 1 teaspoon for flour.
3. Gently combine ground beef and two tablespoons of the spice mixture, taking care not to over handle. Form into six bun size patties and cover with plastic wrap.
4. Prepare steak sauce by combining ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, horseradish and liquid smoke in a small covered bowl. Set aside to baste burgers.
5. Dredge onions and pickles in flour and 1 tsp of reserved spice mixture. Pour 1/2 inch to 1 inch of olive oil into pan. Add onions to pan and fry for 4-5 minutes until browned. Remove from pan and place on plate lined with paper towels. Add pickles to pan and fry for 3-4 minutes until browned on both sides. Remove from pan and place on plate lined with paper towels.
6. Brush grill with oil. Place patties on grill and allow 5-7 minutes per side for medium doneness. Baste each side with steak sauce. In the last 2-3 minutes of grilling, place slice of cheese on each patty. Also, brush cut side of each bun with oil and place on grill to toast.
7. To assemble place lettuce on bottom bun, follow with dollop of steak sauce and patty. Top with fried onions and pickles and bun. Serve.