Hake Burgers Food

SHAKE SHACK-STYLE BURGERS

Steps:

• Puree the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickles and brine, sugar and cayenne in a mini food processor or blender until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Form the beef into 4 pucks, about 2 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches thick. Refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes.
• Melt the butter on a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Open the buns and place open-side down on the griddle. Cook until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Remove to a plate.
• Wipe off the griddle. Increase the heat to medium high and brush with the vegetable oil. Working in two batches, transfer the patties to the griddle, about 3 inches apart, and press firmly with a large spatula (or two small spatulas) to flatten into very thin patties. Cook, pressing the edges of the patties, about 20 seconds. Season each patty generously with salt and black pepper. Continue cooking until the edges are crisp and the beef is browned, 1 to 1 1/2 more minutes. Flip the patties; season with more salt and black pepper and top each with 1 cheese slice. Continue cooking until the cheese melts around the edges and the burger is cooked through, about 1 more minute.
• Spread the mayonnaise sauce on the bun tops. Serve the patties on the buns with the tomatoes and lettuce.

PORTUGUESE-STYLE PAN-FRIED HAKE

Steps:

• Fill the saucepan halfway with water and bring it to boil over high heat. Score an x at the base of each tomato with a small paring knife. Lower the tomatoes into the boiling water until the skin splits, about 30 seconds. Plunge them into ice water after blanching to stop the cooking. Peel skins from the tomatoes, and cut them in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds, cut the tomatoes into a 1/3-inch slivers (julienne) and set them aside. There will be about 1 1/2 cups.
• You should start the sauce about 15 minutes before you want to serve the fish, so start heating up the larger skillet (for the fish) on a medium heat at the same time you begin the sauce. Place the smaller skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil (3 tablespoons) and the bay leaves. Cook the bay leaves until they are lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the allspice and garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Add the bell pepper and onion and saute, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are golden, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, white wine and olives. Simmer until the sauce is fragrant and has thickened slightly, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
• Just before you add the tomatoes to the sauce, add the olive oil (1/4 cup) to the preheated large skillet. Quickly season all the fillets with salt and pepper on both sides. Spread the cornmeal into a shallow bowl and dredge the fish portions in the cornmeal, 1 at a time, pressing to make the cornmeal adhere and then gently shaking off the excess. Work quickly and put each fillet into hot oil as you prepare them. As soon as the cornmeal appears to darken, turn the heat down a bit. The key is to have them cooking evenly so that when you turn the fillet, it should be a perfect golden brown. It will take about 3 to 4 minutes per side. The thicker the fish, the slower you should cook it. Turn the fillets, and cook for another 3 or 4 minutes until crisp and golden brown. Using a slotted spatula, transfer the fish to individual plates or to a platter. Divide the sauce by draping a small amount of the chunky sauce over the fish and spooning the remaining sauce around it. Serve immediately.

HAKE BURGERS

Steps:

• Cut fish into 1/4-inch pieces, then coarsely chop until it holds together. Mix with eggs, 1/3 cup mayonnaise, breadcrumbs, capers, chives, 1 teaspoon salt, and cayenne. Form into 8 patties, each about 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high. Cook 4 burgers, flipping once, until golden brown and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Repeat with remaining oil and burgers.
• Combine remaining 1/2 cup mayonnaise and mustard. Brush split sides of buns with oil; lightly toast in skillet. Sandwich burgers in buns with mayonnaise mixture, red onions, and watercress.