The Juicy Lucy Food

JUICY LUCY BURGERS

Steps:

• Combine ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, and pepper in a large bowl; mix well. Form 8, thin patties from the beef. Each patty should be slightly larger than a slice of cheese.
• Cut each slice of American cheese into 4 equal pieces; stack the pieces. Sandwich one stack of cheese between 2 ground beef patties. Tightly pinch edges together tightly seal the cheese within the meat. Repeat with the remaining cheese and patties.
• Preheat a cast-iron or other heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat. Cook burgers until well browned, about 4 minutes. It is common for burgers to puff up due to steam from the melting cheese. Turn burgers and prick the top of each to allow steam to escape; cook until browned on the outside and no longer pink on the inside; about 4 minutes. Serve on hamburger buns.

SPICY CHEDDAR JUICY LUCIES

Steps:

• Combine the beef, 1 tablespoon sriracha (or more if you're feeling spicy), 1 teaspoon salt and a few good turns of pepper in a large bowl. Mix with your hands to combine, being careful not to overmix. Divide into 4 parts, roll into balls and create a large divot in the center of each. Fill each divot with an equal amount of cheese. Seal in the cheese and press into patties. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.
• Lightly oil a cast-iron pan or grill and heat over medium-high heat. Grill the burgers to desired doneness, 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Lightly butter the buns. Grill the buns until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a medium cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the butter and melt. Add the onions and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes.
• To serve: I like this order: bun, large squiggle of mayo, lettuce, tomato, meat, smiley face of sriracha, onions, bun. Enjoy!

BREAKFAST JUICY LUCY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, spread the pork out and sprinkle evenly all over with the brown sugar, fennel seeds, rosemary, sage, thyme, pepper flakes, nutmeg, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few good turns of pepper. Mix with your hands to combine, being careful not to over mix. Divide into 4 parts and roll into balls. Create a large divot in the center of each ball and fill each with 1 slice of the cheese that's been folded into 4 quarters. Seal in the cheese by pressing the edges of the divot together and then press the ball into patties. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat a lightly oiled nonstick pan over medium-high heat and cook until the patties have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Remove to a plate and set aside.
• Add a drizzle of oil to the pan. Crack in the eggs, cover and cook to the desired doneness. (I like a firm yolk with these since the cheese will lend enough ooze!) Season with salt and pepper.
• Butter the English muffins and place on a parchment paper-lined sheet tray. Place in the oven and toast until lightly golden, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Top each English muffin with a patty, an egg and sriracha or hot sauce, if desired. Enjoy!

CHEF JOHN'S JUICY LUCY

Steps:

• Divide beef into two 3-ounce balls. Lightly moisten fingertips with water and press beef into patties about 1/4-inch thick. Drop Worcestershire sauce over patties; rub in lightly. Sprinkle garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and cayenne on top and rub in.
• Cut a circle of cheese using a pastry cutter or the rim of a glass. Place cheese onto 1 patty; cover with the other patty. Press edges together carefully. Flip and continue pressing until fully sealed. Season both sides with a little salt.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patty for 5 minutes per side for medium doneness. Place patty on one half of a bun. Top with tomato, lettuce, and the other half of the bun.

MINNEAPOLIS BAR BURGERS AKA JUICY LUCY 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. Transfer to one side of a rimmed baking sheet and set aside. Reserve the cast-iron pan.
• For the burgers: Place the buns cut-side up on the other side of the rimmed 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.
• Divide the meat into 8 equal portions (about 3 ounces each). Shape each portion with your hands into a thin patty and place on another baking sheet. Places 2 slices of cheese each in the center of 4 of the patties. Place the remaining patties on top of the cheese. Pinch together the edges of both patties to seal. Sprinkle both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.
• 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.
• Carefully add a splash of water and immediately cover tightly with a lid. Cook about 1 minute longer (the steam will ensure the cheese in the center melts completely).
• Place the burgers on the bottom buns and top with the ketchup, sliced pickles, caramelized onions and the top buns and serve immediately.

MOLTEN CHEESE JUICY LUCY

Steps:

• Mix the beef with 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl. Form the beef into eight 1/4-inch-thick patties. Fold each cheese slice into quarters and place a folded slice on 4 of the patties. Top each with another patty, then form the meat around the cheese to fully enclose.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the burgers and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium rare.
• Serve the burgers on the buns and top with ketchup, mayonnaise and/or pickles. Let sit a few minutes before eating.

SPICY JUICY LUCY-FER SLIDERS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the onions, spreading them into an even layer. Cook, without stirring, until the edges of the onions are beginning to brown, 5 minutes. Stir the onions and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and caramelized, another 20 minutes. Add the chipotles, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook until fragrant and well combined, 1 to 2 minutes, and remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven broiler. Divide the meat into 12 portions, about 2 ounces each. Form a patty around each piece of cheese and flatten to 2 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter. Put the wrapped patties on a foil-lined baking sheet and sprinkle all the patties with 3/4 teaspoon salt.
• Broil until the cheese is melted and the burgers are still a bit pink inside, about 6 minutes. The burgers will be cooked to at least medium in order to melt the cheese but still stay juicy.
• Mix the ketchup, balsamic and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Brush the burgers with some of the ketchup sauce and divide the rest among the bottom halves of the buns. Place a burger on each bottom bun, top with some of the spicy onions and finish with a top bun. Serve warm.

SPAGHETTI AND JUICY LUCY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
• For the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic, dried oregano and crushed red pepper and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add both types of canned tomatoes and 1 cup of water from the pasta pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer until thickened and flavorful, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Once the meatballs are browned and the sauce has thickened, nestle the meatballs into the sauce and spoon a little of the sauce over each meatball. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, cover and simmer while the pasta cooks, about 10 minutes.
• Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain the spaghetti and place on a platter. Spoon some sauce onto the spaghetti and toss to coat. Nestle the cooked meatballs into the noodles. Top with desired amount of sauce, a drizzle of olive oil, the fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese, for serving.
• Place an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the beef and sausage in a large bowl and spread out the meat with a wooden spoon. Season with salt. Add the eggs, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, onion, parsley and garlic in a large bowl and mix well with your hands to combine. Divide into 8 equal balls. Use your thumb to hollow out the center of a ball so it resembles a bowl. Stick a mozzarella ball inside and press to seal the mozzarella inside the meat mixture. Roll into a ball and place on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining meat mixture and mozzarella.
• Bake until the meatballs are well browned, 18 to 22 minutes. (They will cook more in the sauce).

JUICY LUCY PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190C/gas 5/ fan 170C. Mix the fruits of the forest in a large bowl with the sugar and jam, then add the pears and toss to mix. Tip into a deep baking dish measuring about 18x28cm, cover with foil and roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Pierce a pear or two to see if they are really tender; if not, return dish to the oven for another 5 minutes or until they feel soft.
• Mix breadcrumbs with the butter and scatter over the fruit. Bake uncovered in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden and crispy. Serve hot.