Hot Brown Burgers Recipe

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated August 30, 2018
20130619-burger-hot-brown-edit.jpg
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

Recipe Details

Hot Brown Burgers Recipe

Active 45 mins
Total 45 mins
Serves 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 pint heavy cream
  • 3 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 10 ounces freshly ground beef, formed into two 5-ounce patties
  • 2 slices hearty white toast
  • 4 slices bacon, crisply cooked
  • 4 slices ripe tomato
  • Dash paprika
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

  1. Preheat broiler or toaster oven to high. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour and whisk to combine. Continue to cook, whisking constantly until pale golden blond, about 1 minute. Slowly pour in heavy cream, whisking constantly. Bring to a simmer then remove from heat. Whisk in grated cheese, then season to taste with salt and pepper.

  2. When ready to serve, season burger patties generously with salt and pepper and cook burgers to desired doneness on a hot grill or in a skillet on the stovetop, 125°F for medium rare or 135°F for medium. Let burger patties rest for 5 minutes off heat.

  3. Place 1 slice toast in the bottom of each gratin dish or both slices in the bottom of one oval baking dish and top each with a burger patty. Pour half the sauce over each sandwich, completely coating it. Place under broiler until spotty brown and bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes. Place 2 slices of bacon in a cross on top of each dish and add 2 slices of tomato to the side of the toast. Sprinkle with paprika and parsley and serve immediately with a knife and fork.

Special equipment

grill, 2 small heatproof gratin dishes, or 1 medium heatproof baking dish

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