Italian Bocconcini Hamburgers
Italian Bocconcini Hamburgers are my twist on burgers with some favourite Italian ingredients. I am using the burger-in-a-bag method which you may have seen on various blogs. I got the idea from Ziploc bags: https://ziploc.com/recipes/dinner/gourmet-hamburger-patties-red-onion-burger
Using Ziploc Bags
Ziploc bags come in handy for many things and I find this method easy to use and not as messy. The burgers are easy to remove from the freezer and you can put just about anything in them. Today I use lean ground beef, mushrooms and onion. To add the Italian zing I put in basil and my mix of Italian seasoning which has fennel and red pepper flakes in it.
This Italian Hamburger is topped with bocconcini and served with a Pesto mayonnaise. Fresh heirloom tomatoes from Leamington make this a burger that’s easy for entertaining and a crowd-pleaser.
View the video to watch the process.
Here the burgers come out of the freezer. They hold together better and don’t fall apart on the grill, which can sometimes happen when using vegetables in the meat.
I love grill marks and after 4 minutes on one side these marks are perfect.
It’s all about the bun. I went to our local bakery and bought these beauties. I smother them with a pesto mayonnaise. For a quick mayonnaise, I use store bought mayonnaise and add 1 tablespoon of my homemade pesto.
It’s a beautiful site to watch once the bocconcini hit the burgers.
Aww that first bite!!
Italian Bocconcini Burgers
It's the little cheese balls that will make you smile!!
Ingredients
- 2 lb lean ground beef
- 1 container fresh mushrooms 300gr
- 1 medium onion
- 12 large leaves of fresh basil
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp salt
- 2 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
-
Dice the onion and mushroom into small pieces. If your pieces are too large, the burgers will fall apart.
Chiffonade the basil. You can learn how to do this at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88tztCqjAkY
Combine everything together except the water.
Mix thoroughly. Now add the 1/2 cup water and mix again.
Take a large Ziploc freezer bag and place the mixture in it.
Ensure that it is tightly sealed.
Spread out the meat mixture. I used my small rolling pin.
Now use something to score the contents into 9 pieces. I used my large chef's knife with the lid. You can use a ruler or the handle of a large wooden spoon.
Place the bag in the freezer for at least 3 hours.
Remove and break the burgers apart and use as many as needed.
This recipe makes 9 burgers. I like to allow 2 burgers per person and that is generous. 🙂
Heat the grill to 400 F. Grill 4 minutes on each side.
Turn again and lay the bocconcini on the burgers for 2 minutes.
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