French Dip Burger Food

FRENCH DIP BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the caramelized onions: Heat the oil in a large cast-iron pan over medium heat, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and caramelized, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste, add the garlic and thyme and continue to cook for 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Reserve the cast-iron pan.
• For the beef broth: Combine the beef broth, thyme and some salt and pepper in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the broth is warmed through and begins to take on the thyme flavor, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the thyme and season with more salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a bowl and top with more thyme leaves. Keep warm.
• For the burgers: Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Shape each portion with your hands into a rectangular patty to match the shape of the hoagie rolls, about 3/4 inches thick. Sprinkle both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.
• Place the hoagie rolls cut-side up on a baking sheet, brush the cut sides with some canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toast in the oven until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Heat the same cast-iron pan over high heat. Add the canola oil and let heat until it begins to shimmer. Put the burgers in the pan and cook, flipping once, until golden brown on both sides and cooked to medium doneness, about 8 minutes total.
• Top each burger with 2 slices of cheese. Carefully add 1/4 cup of water to the pan and immediately cover tightly with a lid. (If using a griddle, do one at a time and use a sandwich dome or stainless-steel bowl to cover.) Count to 10. Lift lid or dome to make sure that the cheese is totally melted (if not, cover again and count 5 seconds longer.)
• Place the burgers on the bottom rolls and top with a large spoonful of the caramelized onions and the top rolls. Serve with the warm beef broth on the side for dipping.

FRENCH DIP CHEESEBURGERS ON BRIOCHE ROLLS WITH CRISPY, BUTTERY CRUSHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Gather ingredients.
• Halve and peel the onions and leave root end attached. Thinly slice the onions from the root end, down and in opposite direction, thinly slicing onion, then slice off the root end to separate.
• To a medium nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat, add the oil, 1 turn of the pan. Melt butter into oil, then add onions and season with salt and white or black ground pepper, bay leaf. Stir and soften a few minutes, then add 1/2 cup water and about 1/2 cup consomme or beef bone broth and let it absorb, 4 to 5 minutes. Add creme fraiche or sour cream and mustard, then combine and reduce heat to low/warm, cover. Remove bay before serving.
• Warm the remaining 2 1/2 cups consomme or bone stock in small pot over low heat for dipping.
• Preheat cast-iron skillet or griddle for burgers over medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, place potatoes in a skillet with lid with 2 1/2 cups water and some butter and bring to boil, covered. Cook 8 to 10 minutes to just tender, then remove lid and let water evaporate. Crush potatoes a bit with the bottom of a water glass and brown to crisp up edges and skins, 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• While the potatoes are cooking, mix garlic into the beef. Score meat into 4 sections, then form 4 patties thinner at centers than edges for even cooking. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Cook patties in skillet or on griddle about 8 minutes, turning occasionally. Melt cheese, 2 slices per patty, over tops in last minute or so.
• Split and lightly toast buns, optional.
• Drain and slice some cornichons for the buns.
• Chop parsley.
• To serve: Top bun bottoms with pickles, patties, creamy onions, tops of buns. Cut burgers in half and serve with small bowls of warm consomme or stock for dipping burgers and potatoes alongside, sprinkled with chopped parsley.

FRENCH DIP BURGERS

Steps:

• Heat grill.
• Mix 1 cup water and 2 tbsp soup mix in 1 quart saucepan.
• Heat to boiling.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer while making and grilling patties.
• In medium bowl, mix 2 tbsp water and the remaining soup mix until well blended.
• Stir in ground beef.
• Shape into 4 oval patties, 1/2 inch thick.
• Place patties on grill, cover grill.
• Cook with medium heat 11 to 13 minutes, turning once, until thermometer reads 160°F.
• During last 2 minutes place bread slices on grill; cook 1 to 2 minutes, turning once, until lightly toasted.
• To serve, place each patty between 2 slices french bread.
• Serve with hot broth for dipping.

FRENCH DIP BURGER

Steps:

• Over medium-high heat, heat large nonstick skillet or fire up grill.
• Trim thin slice off top and bottom of ciabatta bun to create flat surface. Then slice each bun in half horizontally. Lightly spread mayonnaise on outside of ciabatta bun, to enhance browning. Place bun, mayonnaise-side down, on grill or in pan. Top each bun with cheese slice to toast bun and melt cheese.
• Season burger with seasoning salt. Grill, broil or pan-fry burger until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
• Top burger with caramelized onions. Place burger on one toasted bun, then top with remaining bun. Cut in half and serve with beef broth for dipping.