The Burger: Aged Beemster and Smoked Bacon with French Fries

Add hot banana peppers to this burger for a spicy kick to accompany homemade ground beef patties and aged Beemster cheese on brioche buns.
Directions for: the Burger: Aged Beemster and Smoked Bacon with French Fries

Ingredients

Burger Patties

1 Tbsp (15 mL) canola oil

1 lb(s) lean ground beef, rolled into 4 (6-oz/170 g) balls

4 slices double-smoked bacon

Salt and pepper, to taste

8 slices aged Beemster

4 brioche buns

1 Tbsp (15 mL) butter

8 slices hot banana peppers

4 leaves Boston lettuce

cup (60 mL) mayonnaise

French Fries

2 lb(s) (900 g) russet potatoes, washed, skin on

A deep fryer or pot of canola oil set to 325F

Salt, to taste

Directions

Burger Patties

1. Add canola oil to a cast iron frying pan on medium high heat and add two 6-oz (170 g) balls of ground beef to the pan.

2. Add the double smoked bacon to the same pan and using a spatula press down the chuck to flatten them into a patty shape.

3. Add a generous amount of ground salt and pepper and flip the burgers over, cook for 3 minutes per side.

4. Add sliced Beemster to the warm burger and top with the crispy bacon.

5. Toast the brioche buns in the oven with a touch of butter.

6. to finish the burgers add your favourite toppings, my choice would be hot banana peppers, mayonnaise and Boston lettuce.

7. Repeat with remaining patties.

French Fries

1. Cut potatoes into even and uniform pieces, about 3-inch x -inch ( 7.5cm x 0.5cm). Soak fries in the cold water for about 30 minutes. this removes some of the excess starch and surface sugars which can burn in the frying process. Drain french fries from the water, and pat dry to remove excess water.

2. Heat a heavy stockpot fitted with a deep-fry thermometer with oil to 325F.

3. Carefully, add 2 handfuls of fries to hot oil. there should be at least 1-inch (2.5 cm) of oil above the French fries. Blanch until fries are light brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove fries, gently shaking off excess oil and let drain on rack. Repeat until all of the potatoes are blanched.

4. Raise heat of oil to 350F.

5. Cook French fries again, 2 handfuls at a time, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove from oil, shake off excess oil, lightly season in a bowl with salt. Repeat until all potatoes are cooked.

See more: Beef, Cheese, Comfort Food, Dinner, Hot and Spicy, Main, Pork