The Pastrami Burger Bomb Food

PASTRAMI BURGER

Steps:

• Start a wood campfire and wait until the flames die down and the coals glow red with white ash. Lower a grilling grate so that it sits above the coals and you have nice, even medium heat.
• Place the butter and garlic in a large cast-iron skillet and set over the fire (or on a stovetop over medium heat). As the butter melts, the garlic will infuse the butter and become fragrant. Stir well and season with salt and pepper; transfer the garlic butter to a small bowl and set aside to cool.
• Place the same skillet back over medium heat to warm up. Add enough canola oil to coat the skillet, about 2 tablespoons, then add the onion. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the onion caramelizes, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and cook until soft and evenly brown, about 3 more minutes. Transfer the onion to a plate and set aside.
• Raise the heat level to medium high by moving the skillet so it's directly over the coals, or lower the grate so it's closer to the coals. Add enough canola oil to coat the skillet, about 2 tablespoons. Add the pastrami and cook, turning a few times, until crisp, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove the pastrami and set aside, leaving any accumulated juices in the skillet.
• Divide the ground beef into 4 portions and form into 4 tight balls. Sprinkle them all over with salt and pepper. Place the hamburger balls in the skillet and sear 30 to 40 seconds, then use a strong flat metal spatula to flatten them. Continue to press with the spatula and cook until the burgers develop a crust on the bottom, about 2 1/2 minutes. Flip and cook to develop a crust on the second side, 1 minute. Use a spoon to baste the burgers with the pastrami fat in the pan.
• Top each burger with 2 slices cheese. Pour 1 tablespoon water into the skillet and cover with a lid, aluminum foil or another pan to seal in the steam (this will help melt the cheese). Leave covered 30 to 40 seconds, until the cheese has melted, then remove the lid. When the burgers are at the desired point of doneness and the cheese is melted, top each with a pile of crispy pastrami, then set the burgers aside.
• Brush the cut sides of the buns lightly with the garlic butter. Toast the buns directly on the grill over the campfire until golden and crisp around the edges, 15 to 20 seconds. Flip and lightly toast the outside of the buns, another 15 seconds.
• Assemble each burger by layering the bottom half of each bun with pickle slices and caramelized onion, then a pastrami-burger patty. Top each with lettuce, tomatoes and the top half of the bun. Serve with caraway coleslaw.
• Photograph from "Guy on Fire: 130 Recipes for Adventures in Outdoor Cooking"

PASTRAMI BURGER

Steps:

• Form the beef into four 4-inch-wide patties (1/2 to 3/4 inch thick); season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the burgers and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook 1 minute, then top each burger with a slice of cheese and one-quarter of the pastrami. Cover and cook until the cheese melts and the pastrami is hot, about 2 more minutes for medium.
• Serve the burgers on the buns with lettuce, onions, tomatoes and Thousand Island dressing.

THE PASTRAMI BURGER BOMB RECIPE

Steps:

• Divide beef into four even five ounce portions, gently pressing each into a patty about 4 1/2 inches wide. Cover with plastic and refrigerate until needed. Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar, sugar, and relish in small bowl. Stir with spoon until smooth. Set aside.
• Place as much pastrami as can fit in one layer in a 12-inch non-stick or cast iron skillet or griddle and place over medium high heat. Cook until pastrami is well-browned and crisp on first side, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on second side, about 45 seconds longer. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining pastrami, placing directly on hot skillet, using as many batches as necessary (you'll probably need about three batches). Set pastrami aside until needed.
• Return empty skillet to heat (leave the pastrami fat) and add two buns, cut-side down. Toast until golden brown, about 1 minute. Repeat with remaining buns. Set aside.
• Return pan to heat. Season burger patties generously with salt and pepper and add to pan. Cook until well browned on both sides and center of burger reads 130°F on an instant-read thermometer for medium rare, about 5 minutes total, flipping and adding cheese halfway through cooking. While burgers are cooking, divide mayonnaise mixture and coleslaw evenly between bottom buns. Top with cooked burgers, crispy pastrami, and bun tops. Serve immediately. This Recipe Appears In The Burger Lab: The Pastrami Burger Bomb