The Perfect Pan-Fried Hamburger.....with Caramelized Onions!

I love hamburgers!  Yes, a burger is one of my favorite foods.  I am picky when it comes to a burger, it has to be made with fresh ground beef, not one of those frozen "hockey pucks."

When I was a little girl, my parents would take us to this restaurant "St. John's", it was a little place on Liberty Avenue, in Queens, New York.  The restaurant was located right under the "A" Train, an elevated train station. I loved the BURGERS at this place, even as a little girl, I would order a burger, and it had to have caramelized onions, and the bun was lightly toasted. The burger was DELICIOUS! 

Today my hubby cooks burgers on the grill in the Summertime, but in the Winter months, when the deck is covered with snow, I pan-fry the burgers in my Cast-Iron Skillet..  Yes, a cast-iron skillet, those of you who have one know what I'm talking about, and it's perfect for pan-frying burgers!  The burger come out so perfect, juicy, and so delicious. I only use salt to season the burgers, it's the flavor of the beef that I only want to taste. Top the burgers with American cheese, toast the buns right after the burgers are done, yep, in the same pan, with the drippings......ok so your not gonna eat this everyday, so treat yourselves.   And don't forget the Caramelized Onions!  YUMMO!

Pan Fried Burgers
2 lbs 85% Ground Beef - makes about 4 burgers
salt
Hamburger Buns

In a greased frying pan, or if your lucky, cast-iron skillet, heat on high.  Form your burgers into patties, make an indent in the middle so the burgers don't puff.  Put them in the hot GREASED pan, salt the burgers on the top side, and fry for about 3 minutes, you want a beautiful brown color on the bottom before you flip.  Flip the burgers and salt again.  Wait for another 3 mins, and remove the burgers onto a plate.  Drain all the fat, and lower the heat to med-low, put the burgers back into the pan, cook COVERED for another 7 minutes if you want a WELL-DONE burger like I do, or another 4 minutes if you want MED-WELL, or if you want it "MOOING"....about 2 more mins.  Turn off the heat and top the burgers with cheese, cover, let the cheese melt. Remove burgers and put on a plate, turn the heat to med and toast the hamburger buns in the skillet for about 1 minute, watch them don't let them burn!  Serve immediately.

Caramelized Onions
2 large onions, chopped
2 TBS butter
2 TBS oil (I use Canola)
salt & pepper
1 tsp. sugar

In a frying pan, heat on med-high, add the butter and oil, then add the chopped onions, salt, pepper, and sugar.  Lower the heat to med-low and cook the onions SLOWLY, stirring occasionally.  You want this to cook slowly, they will cook down and turn a light brown caramel color, about 20 mins or so.  Serve immediately.....YUMMO!