Grilled Rosemary and Garlic Hamburgers

There’s one thing that separates a tasty burger from a phenomenal one.

It’s not the condiments, or even the type of beef used. It’s the juiciness factor.

It’s that pop of flavor that bursts in your mouth when a patty is grilled just right, and allowed to rest for just the right amount of time.

And when it comes to a patty that’s mixed with a flavorful collection of spices and herbs, the longer these ingredients sit together before serving, the better.

Rosemary and garlic are a delectable combination, but I added a few pinches of cayenne to kick up the heat factor, along with some basil and finely minced onion. Another secret that makes this meal a family favorite is that I don’t add the seasonings on top of the patty, but instead fold them into the ground beef.

Think about it. What usually happens to salt, pepper, or any other dry ingredient you sprinkle on top of a raw beef patty? Inevitably, most of it sticks on the grates and stays there. But if you fold those tasty bits right into the meat, they’re locked in for good.

You’ll want to take your time mixing in the seasonings to make sure that everything is fully incorporated.

I chose garlic and rosemary because they combine well. However, your imagination is the only limit to what you could fold into yours. My rule of thumb is to pick your favorite herb and mix it with something spicy like cayenne, chili powder, or horseradish.

If you want to use a milder spice, you can try coriander or cumin. Pick either onion or garlic to add a flavorful allium to the mix, then fold away.

Grilling also helps to lock in the flavor because a good portion of the patty is seared immediately on contact. That means that your grill needs to be well oiled and smoking hot before you put the patty down.

Miss any of these steps, and you’ll end up with more beef on the slats then on your fluffy brioche bun.

Make sure not to move the patty around once you’ve set it in place on the grate. Any movement will interfere with that initial sear.

I like my burgers pure – just a lettuce leaf and maybe a juicy tomato slice on top. Once you’ve seasoned the beef to perfection, I don’t think you need to add much more. But if you’re not using brioche buns, spread a little unsalted butter on your regular bun right before serving.

You can thank me later.

And if you’re all about the condiments, I wouldn’t hesitate to add a squirt of homemade ketchup and a smear of homemade mayonnaise to the mix.

Grilled Rosemary and Garlic Hamburgers

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• Author: Katherine and Eddie D’Costa
• Total Time: 34 minutes
• Yield: 4 burgers 1x

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Description

Rosemary and garlic fill this chuck patty with vibrant flavor. Tucked in between a buttery brioche bun, this burger is decked out with lettuce and plump Roma tomatoes.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck beef (80% lean)
• 1/4 small yellow onion, minced (about 3 tablespoons)
• 1 large clove garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
• 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary 
• 1 teaspoon dried basil 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 brioche buns
• 4 large romaine lettuce leaves
• 1 ripe Roma tomato, sliced

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Instructions

To Form Patties:

1. In a large bowl, gently break up the ground chuck.
2. Fold in yellow onions, garlic, rosemary, basil, and cayenne pepper.
3. Add kosher salt and black pepper. Mix well.
4. Divide beef into 4 equal patties. Roll each beef portion from hand to hand to form ball, then lightly flatten with your fingertips to form ¾-inch-thick patties.
5. Gently press the center of each patty down with your fingertips until it is about 1/2 inch thick, creating slight depression. Set aside on a platter.

To Grill and Assemble:

1. Using a gas grill, turn burner to high heat and preheat for 15 minutes.
2. Clean grill grate with a lightly oiled rag.
3. Grill brioche buns for 15-20 seconds, then set aside on a plate.
4. Gently place patties on grill. Don’t press them down.
5. Grill for 4 minutes, until well browned on first side.
6. Using a steel spatula, gently flip patties and continue to grill for another 3 minutes for rare, 3 1/2 minutes for medium-rare, and 4 minutes for medium. 
7. Transfer burgers to a plate. Rest for 5-7 minutes before assembling.
8. Layer lettuce, burger, and sliced tomato between each brioche bun. 
9. Serve immediately.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 9 minutes
• Category: Beef
• Method: Grill
• Cuisine: Burgers

Keywords: beef, burger, rosemary, garlic, grill

Cooking By the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep Ground Beef

With a chef’s knife, mince the yellow onions and garlic. Strip the leaves from the rosemary stem and chop them.

In a large bowl, gently break up the ground chuck.

Fold in the onions, garlic, rosemary, basil, and cayenne pepper. You can wear disposable gloves and use your hands to mix the ingredients into the beef thoroughly.

Add kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix well.

Step 2 – Make Patties

Divide the beef into 4 equal patties by rolling each beef portion into a ball. Then, using your fingertips, flatten each portion to about 3/4 of an inch thick.

Gently press the center of each down with your fingertips until it is about 1/2 inch thick, creating a slight depression. Set aside on a platter.

Step 3 – Grill

Using a gas grill, turn the burner to high heat and let it heat up for 15 minutes. Using a lightly oiled rag, clean the grill grate. Any cooking oil will do.

Grill the brioche buns for 15-20 seconds, then remove them with tongs and set aside on a plate. You can toast both sides, or just the insides of the buns.

Gently place the burgers on the grill, with the depressions facing up. Don’t press them down.

Grill for 4 minutes, or until well browned on the first side.

Using a steel spatula, gently flip the patties and continue to grill. If you like your burgers rare, continue to cook for 3 minutes. Grill the second side for 3 1/2 minutes for medium-rare, or 4 minutes for medium. If you like your burgers well done, keep them on a little longer.

Transfer the burgers to a clean platter, and set aside to rest for 5-7 minutes before assembling. If you build the burgers too quickly, the juices from the meat will saturate the buns.

Step 4 – Build and Serve

Layer a lettuce leaf, burger, and sliced tomato between the top and bottom portions of each brioche bun. You can add your favorite condiments, if you like.

Serve immediately.

About Eddie & Katherine D'Costa

Eddie and Katherine D’Costa are a married professional chef and journalist duo from Atlanta, where they cook up a variety of international dishes, tested for the home cook. Katherine holds an MA in journalism from Northeastern University and Eddie’s professional experience spans 20 years working with Wolfgang Puck, Jean George Vongerichten, and Todd English.

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