The Quintessential Aussie Burger


WORDS:: Chyka Keebaugh

PHOTOS:: Lisa Atkinson


A simple, tasty burger is always a winning meal, and I think this particular burger perfectly sums up Australia.


What better way to celebrate Australia Day with friends than with a great burger, right? A key to success in entertaining is to always keep things simple – no matter what the event. Doing as much preparation as possible before the event takes the stress off during the party, enabling you to enjoy the fun. Burgers are pretty hip at the moment; there are so many specialty burgers places around that it’s hard to name just one as your favourite. Burgers are also one of the simplest BBQ meals that can be made, making them perfect for Australia Day celebrations.

Burgers are great to serve individually or set up as a buffet. To me, the key is to offer as many extras as possible, so people can make their own versions to suit their tastes. By cooking up your burgers before your guests arrive means all you need to do is finish them off in the oven. Too easy! Make sure the size of your patty is in proportion to the bun and allow for shrinkage, and always make sure you choose great rolls - brioche or crunchy. Have these sliced and ready to go.


Every burger needs fries, but sometimes that’s a little tricky to perfect. A clever alternative to this would be to buy some cute hard-edged cupcake holders that you can then fill with a handful of your favourite potato chips. This cheap and efficient touch makes the meal look great, as well as adding a little side of crunch!


To finish off the burger - place an Australian flag in the bun to remind everyone what you are celebrating. I am all for showing off our flag, so use as many things you can to embrace our colours of red, blue and white.


Last but not least, there is nothing more Australian than a Fosters Beer – its even the secret ingredient in my Aussie Beef Burger Patty recipe! An effective way to serve up the burger is by using a wooden board as a plate with a large red paper serviette under the burger to add a pop of colour and bring it all together. Time to dig in!


Ingredients::

  • 500g beef mince
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) beer


Method::

  1. Preheat barbecue for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
  2. Mix the beef mince, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix in the beer until absorbed by the meat mixture. Form into patties.
  3. Cook on the preheated barbecue until the burgers are cooked; about 5 minutes per side for well done.


Extra treats for your burgers::

  • Bacon
  • Different cheeses
  • Cheddar / Swiss/ Gouda 
  • Tomatoes sliced and a great tomato relish
  • Ice burg or Cos Lettuce 
  • Beetroot  or as a relish
  • Fried egg
  • Avocados
  • Fried caramelised onions or raw
  • Pickles
  • Mayonnaise 
  • Mustard (I love to mix mustard with mayo!)
  • Tomato sauce
Lunch & DinnerChyka Keebaugh [Chyka.com]Australia DayComment