Homemade Burger, Green Peppercorn Sauce

Stealing the Show…

Since my sister’s outstanding “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” celebration birthday dinner I have been planning to make peppercorn sauce but somehow as each week went by I managed to forget to buy a key ingredient or they got side tracked into another dish. Finally but not without the assistance of my brother & a last minute excursion to the shop all the ingredients were assembled. While the sauce was delicious & definitely worth the wait it was the onion rings that stole the show ….  JJ

Ingredients & Costing…
Minced Beef x 450gm (95% lean)	2.89
Egg x 1 beaten (free range)	0.27
Fat Clove of Garlic x 2 Crushed	0.05
Parsley Dried x 1 tsp	0.05
Nutmeg x ½ tsp	0.05
Baby Spinach x 50gm	0.49
Spanish Onion x 1 finely sliced	0.33
Freshly Ground Black Pepper	0.05
Flour x 50gm	0.05
Maldon Sea Salt	0.05
Floury Bap x 2 large	0.29
Sunflower Oil & Olive Oil for Frying	0.20
Sauce
Butter x 25gm	0.12
Shallot x 1 finely diced	0.10
Baby Mushrooms x 50gm sliced	0.75
Whole Green Peppercorns x 1½  tblsp	0.10
Whiskey x 110ml	1.90
Beef Stock x 150ml	0.16
Double Cream x 150ml	0.77
3 x Hearty Portions	€8.67

It Couldn’t be easier…

æ      Make the sauce in a heavy based frying pan by melting the butter over a high heat, add finely diced shallots, sliced mushrooms & cook for 2-3 minutes tossing occasionally. Add the green peppercorns & whiskey, to burn off the alcohol touch a lit match to the pan allowing the whiskey to “flame” for approximately 10 seconds before subsiding (ensure it is safe to “flame” your pan or omit this step if you are concerned about safety). Stir in the stock & gradually add the double cream, allow the sauce to simmer until it has reduced by one third, season to taste

æ      Slice the Spanish onion into fine rings, sprinkle with sea salt & allow to stand for a few minutes. Toss the onion rings in flour, shaking off excess & fry in sunflower oil until golden in colour, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon to a bowl lined with crumpled greaseproof paper & keep warm

æ      Prepare the burgers by combining the minced beef, egg, dried parsley, clove of crushed garlic & generous seasoning in a bowl, mix thoroughly & shape into 3 even sized patties. Fry the burgers in a little olive oil for approximately 8 minutes on each side until cooked through

æ      Wilt the spinach over a medium heat in a knob of melted butter together with a clove of crushed garlic & the ground nutmeg

æ      Cut the floury baps in half horizontally & toast lightly on each side

æ      Assemble the burger on a bed of wilted spinach placed on ½ a toasted bap, pour over generous serving of green peppercorn sauce & top with a pile of golden onion rings

Actions Speak Louder Than Words…

Each & every plate at the dinner table was wiped clean after this meal – I think that say’s it all … JJ