Hamburger night (or day) is certainly a night of the week that’s looked forward to in the average South African home. South African hamburger get-togethers usually feature a languid weekend afternoon filled with elaborate hamburger-making that wears on into the evening. And of course, just prior to these events, out comes the traditional “secret” family burger patty recipe – ready to be whipped up by any family member that will help.
You might think that homemade burgers are a hack to make, but if you have been part of the SA family community, you will know that they are anything but. Hamburgers, when made the traditional way are super-easy to make and over the years, families have tweaked their recipes to give them a real South African twist. One just has to think about the boerewors homemade hamburger recipe to realize that.
How to do Homemade Hamburgers Right!
Before we delve into a great homemade burger recipe for you to try out, let’s talk about how to do family homemade burger night the right way. Okay, okay, everyone has their own way of doing it and there’s no hard and fast rule about what’s right and what’s wrong. For most people, mom and the kids (along with any willing friends) spend time creating the actual burger patties, prepping the buns and garnishing, while dad flips the patties on the braai somewhat professionally, ensuring they are ‘just right’ before whizzing them onto fresh sesame seed buns. That being said, what sort of garnishing and sides should you include when making homemade burgers?
What all homemade hamburgers need is:
- Shredded lettuce
- Thick slices of onion rings
- Sliced pickles (gherkins)
- Sliced tomato
- Pink sauce (mix of one party mayo to one part tomato sauce)
- Mustard (hot or mild)
- Chilli sauce (some people love a spicy burger!)
- Optional jalapenos – sliced
- Cheese
- Butter/marge on both buns
At a typical social SA gathering, these garnishing items are laid out on plates or boards near the braai, so that people can help themselves to what they want. This is definitely the easiest way to do it, or you might be faced with a flurry of “I don’t want this” or “I want extra of that” to deal with.
This is enough to get you drooling already, isn’t it? Let’s jump right into a delicious homemade hamburger patty recipe. After all, the hamburger patties are the main event, aren’t they?!
Homemade Hamburger Recipe – Traditional South African style
The great thing about the burger patty recipe below is that you can include meat, or meat alternatives for a vegan/vegetarian option. Now you can include all eating preferences in the family! Let’s get cooking!
What you need:
- 650g of beef mince (or 2 cups of dark soya mince soaked in a small amount of brown onion soup, drained and the liquid pressed out to get the consistency of mince meat).
- 190ml of milk (cow’s milk or plant milk of your choosing)
- ½ an onion (very finely diced)
- 1 garlic clove grated
- A handful of coriander chopped up
- 65ml of Worcestershire sauce
- 3 slices of bread (crusts cut off)
- 2 tablespoons of oil
- Pinch of salt and pepper to taste
What to do:
- Grab a large bowl and thoroughly combine the mince, garlic, onions, coriander, and Worcestershire sauce.
- In a separate bowl, soak the bread slices in the milk. Allow it to soak in completely and then squeeze the excess milk out.
- Then, add the soggy bread to the mince mixture and season the ingredients before mixing them all together.
- Mould the mince mixture into patty type shapes and place them in the fridge for around 15 minutes. They will stiffen up when cooling.
- Brush each patty with a little oil and then pop them onto a low heat/medium heat braai grid. Flip only once with a spatula and be careful not to overcook them.
Voila… the cooked patties only need to be slapped onto the burger buns along with the other garnishing and you’re done. One last thing to do actually; sink your teeth into it and feel the hmm moment wash right over you.
But What About the Boerewors Burger?
If you are thinking “but, what about the boerie burger?” and are dying to know how to make one of those, you’re in luck! There’s time enough for just one more, quick recipe:
Homemade Boerewors Hamburger Recipe
In South Africa, boerewors is on par with staple foods. It’s the main meal of the teenage braai master and the delight of a family braai gathering all the same. It’s the choice of both young and old and seems to have no real boundaries…as it has even found its way onto a hamburger! The boerewors burger is certainly a treat and you can learn how to make your own below:
What you need:
- 600g of boerewors (beef or plant based)
- 250ml of grated cheese (cheddar or plant based)
- ½ a red onion very finely diced
- Handful of coriander chopped
- ¼ cup of chutney
What to do:
- Remove the boerewors meat from the sausage casing.
- In a large bowl, mix the sausage meat, red onion, coriander, chutney, and cheese.
- Shape the meat mixture into 5 patty shapes and place them in the fridge for around 15 minutes to firm up a bit.
- Brush the patties with oil and pop them on the braai, flipping them only once with a spatula. They are ready when cooked through.
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Before you head off to try one or both of the above homemade hamburger recipes, give some thought to how you will access your South African retirement annuity back home, when the time comes. At FinGlobal, we follow the financial emigration laws of South Africa like a complex recipe – step by step. Doing this, and by having almost a decade of experience in the industry, we have been able to help thousands of South African expats across the globe to get the most out of their retirement annuities and of course, their financial emigration. If you would like assistance with these processes, all you have to do is contact us for your FREE and no obligation consultation and quote!