Southern Burger Recipe
A Southern Burger recipe with plenty of pimiento cheese, fried green tomatoes and crispy smoked bacon, makes for a tasty summer BBQ!
Ingredients
- For the Burger Patties:
- 2 lbs Ground Beef
- 1 Tbsp Liquid Smoke
- 2 tsps Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Pepper
- For the Fried Green Tomatoes:
- 2 medium Green Tomatoes sliced about 1/4 inch thick
- ½ cup All Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Cornmeal
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Pepper
- 2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Egg
- 1 cup Milk
- 2 tsp Better Thank Bouillon Chicken or Vegetable flavored
- Vegetable or Canola Oil for frying
- Toppings:
- Price*s Pimiento Cheese
- Lettuce
- Smoked Bacon cooked until just crispy
- Hamburger Buns
- Pickled Okra optional
Instructions
For the Burgers:
- Prepare grill according to manufactures directions, about 325 - 350°F if using a thermometer, or your preferred temperature for grilling hamburgers.
- In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, liquid smoke, garlic powder, salt and pepper, use your hands to mix until well combined. Shape meat mixture into preferred sized beef patties, I like mine about 1 inch thick and just under the size of the hamburger buns I'm using. Cover and set aside until grill is ready.
- Once grill is hot enough, slap those beef patties and grill until desired doneness, I usually aim for about 6 minutes per side.
For the Fried Green Tomatoes:
- To make the fried green tomatoes, lay the slices out on a plate, pat dry with a paper towel, and lightly season with salt and pepper.
- In a heavy bottom frying pan or Dutch oven pour in oil until it's about 1 - 2 inches deep, or if using a deep fryer, add amount needed according to manufacturers directions and heat until 375°F.
- Create an assembly line: First bowl with the milk, egg and the bouillon whisked together. Second, a shallow bowl with flour, corn meal, salt, pepper, and garlic powder mixed together.
- Add the green tomatoes to the milk mixture first, then dredge in the flour mixture until well coated.
- Using a metal slotted spoon with long handle or an Asian skimmer (spider strainer), place your coated tomatoes carefully into the preheated 375°F oil.
- Fry the tomatoes, about 4 slices at a time for about 2 - 3 minutes or until golden brown. (If using a frying pan or Dutch oven set-up, turn the tomatoes over halfway through the frying for even browning).
- On a third plate lined with a couple of layers of paper towels (or paper towel lined baking tray), allow the tomatoes to drain and sprinkle more salt and/or pepper over them while they are hot.
- Repeat process until all batches are done.
To Assemble:
- After you've grilled your hamburgers and the tomatoes are ready, then you will top it off with a dollop of Price*s Pimiento Cheese, fried green tomatoes, some crispy smoked bacon and lettuce. Then serve with your favorite BBQ sides and enjoy!
Notes
If you're unable to find Better Than Bouillon, you can substitute 2 cubes/tsps of chicken or vegetable flavored bouillon.
These also make great sliders, shape hamburger patties to size then top with a single fried green tomato, Bacon and Pimiento Cheese.
Depending on appetites, I usually plan for 1/4 lb of meat per person (for smaller appetites) and 1/2 lb per person (for adult sized appetites). As for the seasoning quantities, I typically eyeball the recipe amounts. Just remember that it's easier to add seasoning later than it is to remove flavor, so don't go overboard with the salt and pepper.
