Inspired by Jamie Oliver’s new series Comfort Food, we made burgers for dinner last week (his original recipe is here). We made a simpler version, omitting the mustard and bacon.
A couple of notes:
The brioche buns were a riff on our sweet dough recipe – I halved the sugar and used lard in place of the butter to give them a more savoury note. They were shaped into twelve rolls, flattened slightly, then spritzed with water and topped with sesame seeds before baking. Here’s the revised ingredients list, instructions are here:
- 1kg bread/bakers flour
- 20g dried/instant yeast
- 14g fine sea salt
- 40g caster (superfine) sugar
- 120g lard
- 4 large (59g) eggs
- 500g full cream milk, at blood temperature, or UHT milk, unrefrigerated
. . . . .
For the sauce, we blitzed together a half batch of speedy mayo with a chipotle chilli (in adobo), a little Worcestershire sauce and a couple of tablespoons of semi-dried tomatoes in oil. This was mixed with chopped garden lettuce and spread over the buns under the patties.
Best burgers we’ve ever made! We’re really enjoying both the tv series and the Comfort Food cookbook. I only wish Jamie would release his cookbooks in Kindle format!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Nothing better than comfort food and to a yank like me a burger is fairly close to the top of the list.
We actually don’t make burgers very often, but from now on, this is how we’re doing it! :)
After my heart: burgers! These look fantastic and kudos for making your own buns!
Thank you! It was easier than trying to go out and buy brioche buns! :)
The one time I attempted beef patties at home they turned out spherical, more like the Indian koftas. This may inspire me to give it another go.
These burgers are nice because they’re just meat. In the past we’ve used breadcrumbs and eggs etc, but this was easier and tastier!
Very tasty looking burgers! Even better if everything’s homemade.
Being able to make the bread and mayo with eggs from the garden did make it all the more delicious! :D
This looks and sounds wonderful. Many years ago my son tried his first Hungry Jacks hamburger, he was 4. When I asked what he thought of it he replied, “It was round”…an excellent answer, I thought.
Hahaha…they really ARE very round! :)
Oh man, the burger in this book (and more importantly the one that he made on the tv show to go with the book) is bloody amazing!!!!!!
Love your take on it Celia xx
It did look divine, didn’t it? :) We saw it on telly and made it the next day – we’re very suggestible like that.. :)
I LOVE your buns Celia! (Is it EVER OK for a woman to say that about another woman’s buns?!) Someone told me about the new series but it hasn’t turned up on Foxtel yet (and we PAY for this privilege…to be second?!) but when it does I will immerse myself. Jamie Oliver might be a bit much to take cavorting around like he was still 20 when he most obviously isn’t, but you have to admire his willingness to try if nothing else. I feel that he has been manipulated to the max by television executives and that the “Jamie Olive” that we see is not necessarily the Jamie Olive that he would like to portray. I get the feeling that he is passionate about what he does but leaves all of that “other stuff” to the wrong people. His latest television programs haven’t been too bad and I will give “Comfort Food” a go when (if!) we get it. At the end of the day, what Jamie Oliver does best is deliver scrumptious food straight down the line. The honesty of his recipes bypasses everything else. This burger, given the Jamie and Celia treatment would be fit to feed the queen!
I love Jamie Oliver. I actually think it’s the opposite – I think he’s pretty much as he appears to be, and you really do get that sense if you follow his and his wife’s Instagram feeds. Love his recipes too! :)
I’m definitely going to get this book. I was underwhelmed by his 30 Minute Meals, too many specialty ingredients and didn’t even get 15 Minute Meals. This however looks good.
Maz
This book has a different feel to it, it’s much slower and laid back. It’s a very nice change from the frenetic 15/30min ones. I really liked the Save with Jamie book as well.
I just went and checked the mayo recipe and read the comments by Meg about Salmonella. As someone who ferments things (a fermentrix ;) ) I am wondering if you cultured the mayo after you made it, would it keep longer? I am assured that it would by fellow fermenters and here are a few recipes for how to do it but I am thinking that this sterling recipe could be adapted using a little bit of whey or culture.
http://www.cheeseslave.com/homemade-lacto-fermented-mayonnaise/
http://www.culturesforhealth.com/lacto-fermented-olive-oil-mayonnaise/
I’m not sure fermenting prevents salmonella, but I know folks who insist heating the eggs slightly to sterilise them will do the trick. Anyway, homemade mayo doesn’t usually last more than a day here. :)
Mum used to cook mayo all of the time. We never had “shop” mayo till I left home, never knew there was such a thing! We don’t use a lot of mayo here and Steve, being an expat from the old country, loves his Heinz salad cream (remember the Fawlty Towers episode with the salad cream bottle and the American spoiled child? ;) ). Come Christmas I need a great recipe for mayo for my potato salad so I am going to have a go at this one. Cheers for the share Celia :)
Oh, nothing better than a homemade burger – and these look sensational – the only thing I would add it beetroot:)
Beetroot! That’s a very Aussie/Kiwi thing to do! :)
Loved your buns – yeah, that sounds naughty, I admit – I need to compare your recipe with the one I used, but one thing I know mine doesn’t take lard, so yours is definitely better! ;-)
I am still resisting Jamie’s book – wish it had a Kindle version indeed, that would be hard to say no to
Sally, if I was making the buns again, I’d make smaller ones – these were a bit too bready. Next time! :)
Indeed, I find that getting the buns just right is not easy. I made some humongous buns in the past, because they rose a lot more than I expected, so now I try to play conservative when I shape them. Still pretty tricky, though….
Celia, you are the new Jamie. These burgers look sensational. I must try this recipe for buns- if I can tear myself away from my life with sourdough. I am not partial to Kindle: still need the pages and patina of books which lay about in different rooms in various states of read- ness. Many are second hand: lately the new cookbooks come from the library. I do also buy a treat here and there.
Francesca, we can’t really store many more books here! Plus there’s the issue with the trees. I do like the Kindle format, but it does take some getting used to! :)
Oh wow – do you deliver?
Sure, but probably not to Spain hon. :)
Nothing beats a home made burger, Celia, that is for certain. Peter and I aren’t huge fans of Jamie Oliver, but there are some things he makes that we do really like. This type of food is one of them. Yummo.
Oh I adore Jamie! For lots of reasons apart from his recipes! :)
Anytime you make things from scratch is a good time. Especially dough.Very satisfying. I like to keep the meat simple and use tasty sauces and toppings.
This is the first time we’ve made a burger pattie without breadcrumbs and eggs etc. It was very nice indeed!
I love the look of the savoury brioche buns! I should probably look at the TV series as I do enjoy Jamie’s enthusiasm, but I find I just can’t stand watching TV with ads these days…
Yes, the adds can be very annoying! :)
BOOM Yeah! Love a good homemade burger loaded with all the yumminess. :) Jamie has been knocking up some stella dishes of late. I actually got sucked in and watched a 15 segment on how to make a bacon sandwich. LOL! Impressed you made the buns too. :)
Hahaha…I watched him make a cheese sandwich last week! :)
The brioche buns look delicious! Celia, just have to let you know I bought the Rochester Ginger a while back and made Moscow Mules, so good hubby and I loved them, also it’s nice on it’s own too. Also, went to Costco yesterday and they had the frozen lobsters, 3 for $25 – guess what we are having for lunch today? Lobster rolls :)
Hooray! I’ve still got some in the freezer to use as well! They’re a great bargain!
Frankly I’m over Jamie Oliver and his publicity machine but I have to admit these burgers look really appetising ,I will definitely try them very soon..Another great recipe celia.Cheers
The burgers were delish! We love Jamie in our house! :)
The burger looks delicious Celia! Yum. Your blog is an inspiration, keep up the good writing. I am hooked to all the frugal posts. Do you mind sharing tips to get good frugal furniture in Sydney? It will be a great help to a young family like mine. We just started our life in Sydney, renting a lovely 2 bedrooms unfurnished apartment.
Thank you! We haven’t had to buy furniture for over twenty years! If I was setting up again now and needed to do it on the cheap, I’d probably opt for one of the chain stores like Fantastic Furniture – I know a student who set up her whole apartment for under $2000 from there. Not sure about the quality though. We personally like Ikea better – a bit more expensive, but the pieces are easier to move if you need to change house, and the quality is quite good. If you’re after second hand furniture, it’s not nearly the bargain it used to be twenty years ago, as it’s become quite trendy! The Bower in Marrickville (Addison Road community centre) sometimes has decent finds, but even they’ve become more expensive in recent years. Have fun! :)
If I may put in my tuppence worth of opinion – I do not think any chef alive has done as much good for the food industry as Jamie Oliver. When you think the good his ’15’ restaurants have done for the unemployable youth; his schools programme both in UK and USA for healthier food; his healthy food teaching programmes in the UK to combat preventable diseases, his fighting for human treatment of animals for the table and for organic seasonal cooking . . . I’ll happily bow! I have all his books except ‘Comfort Food’ because that does not happen to be my usual style of cooking . . . think his 15-minute meals fantastic and oft cook from that book – don’t think I have had to buy too many extra ingredients either. His just past series on using leftovers from main meals I thought just great . . . and that guy has such a strong character no one could or would ever try to ‘make him do’ anything . . . . and even tho’ he gives his large brood offbeat names I have never seen kids so fond of their Dad either . . . I DO make time to watch him: by now he’s like an old comfortable slipper leading me down new paths :) ! Have a happy Sunday everyone!!!!
Ohhhh yum! I made burgers Friday night and used the semolina BBQ buns. These are on the list for next time.
Jo, I was actually thinking that the semolina buns would have been perfect for this. I’ll do that next time! :)
I’m waiting for my birthday next week with the hope to get his book (have been hinting strongly!) I’m desperate to make these burgers and love your take on them. Yum!
Vicki, the recipe is online if you don’t get the book! (But I hope you do!)
Lovely buns! The burger looks great too! I do so adore homemade mayo, especially on a burger, the chipotle would be a wonderful addition. I haven’t heard of Jamie’s new series being on here in the States, I’ll have to look into that.
We’re a bit chipotle obsessed at the moment – it’s going into everything! :)
Love comfort food and even better a good burger! I wish he would release in kindle too…! Thanks for sharing!!!
We’re buying nearly all our books on Kindle these days! :)
You’ve opened up a bit of a discussion there Celia. I TOTALLY agree with Eha. He’s fantastic. Now your hamburgers are looking delish and those buns…..you know I approve of saying that to a woman unreservedly
Tania: was working late and dropped ‘in’ on the way out! I actually went and looked at what the Wikipedia had to say after . . . and, oh boy, I had missed a lot . . . [hope some of you can be bothered doing the same] . . . knew about his MBE ten years back but not his US uni honours or other recognition – to think that a dyslexic guy from a country pub has had the get up and go to accomplish so much by age 39 methinks is great . . .
Eha, Tania, you’re preaching to the converted, ladies. I adore the man! I’ve never had one of his recipes fail. And I have to agree Eha, watching him with his wife and kids are the bits I like the most! :)
This recent youtube video made me grin, mostly for his very cute squealing teenage daughters at the end of it!
Thank you so much for this Celia – what a laughing way to begin the new week!!! Must get to YouTube myself when it stops thundering here :) !!
After watching the show I also made the burgers, but didn’t make my own buns! They were a big hit, he makes everything look so easy and delicious :)
Danielle, I was actually being lazy – the thought of getting into the car to go out and hunt down brioche buns was too much work! :)
Ooh best burgers ever made! I do like hitting recipes highs like this :D I had to watch the ALS challenge video to the end to see what you meant! I didn’t quite get why you liked the ending so much (I didn’t actually understand the people that they said) but it was a fun video.
Jamie’s squealing girls made me laugh, and the look on his face is so typical of a father of teenage daughters! :)
your burger is the perfect one! we really like it and try to cook as you did. Thanks!
Thank you! It was a great recipe!
I really like Jamie Oliver- I don’t know why so many people rag on him! His cookbooks are great and fun, and I really admire what he’s trying to do with schools and the types of lunches they offer.
I’m a huge fan as well! :)
I’m enjoying the TV series too and I want to get the cookbook. Christmas is coming! I love the look of your burger, Celia and I had burgers for dinner and they were similar with plenty of melted cheese and a decent pattie and great pickles and no bacon, but we didn’t make our own rolls – and therein lies the chasm of difference! xx
Charlie, your burgers sound fantastic! Our buns were a bit too fat – will have to work on that for next time! :) xx
Love Jamie’s series, too! LOL, Celia, without the bacon your burger still looks packed with deliciousness!
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Thanks Julie, I never seem to have every ingredient on hand! Hope you’re having a fabulous week! xx
Waiting for the weather to cool down so we can grill outside. Those burgers looks stunningly good.
Sally, Jamie’s latest recipe is great – it’s JUST meat in the pattie and nothing else. Much better than the ones with added breadcrumb and egg that we usually make!
I just bought this book a couple of weeks ago Celia, I’m looking forward to cooking from it! Your adaptation of the burger recipe sounds beautiful xx
Laura, it’s a fun, relaxing read, hope you enjoy the book as much as I have!
Sounds so yummy Celia! I especially like the sound of the mayo- fantastic xox
Becca, the mayo is a winner – we made it again and had it on egg sandwiches! :)
I would go for a Kindle Jamie- but I’ve promised not to buy any more real books.
I love a good burger- and homemade burgers, buns and mayo- yum!
Heidi, Jamie’s books are the only one I’m breaking my kindle only cookbooks rule for!
I think the only reason people bag Jamie out so often is the tall poppy syndrome, people just don’t trust or like others who are so popular, or successful. I like him and find myself seeking out his recipes all the time. Don’t you just love the tinned chipotle adobo chillies? I use the sauce from the tin, adding it to lots of different sauces and mayos, tasty.
Will have to try this recipe, I got his Save with Jamie book for my birthday.
Fran, the chipotles in adobo are amazing – I’ve been spooning them into everything! And I really do like Jamie.. :)
Count me as a fan of Jamie’s, too, Celia, and this cookbook is one that I’ll soon be buying. I tend to shy away from burger recipes that include breadcrumbs and the like. Make ’em all beef, baby! Having made both hamburger and hot dog buns, I know how difficult it is to get them as well-shaped and consistent as yours are. Like your chocolate skills, your baking expertise is truly remarkable.
John, thank you, but my burger buns were a bit too fat – I’m going to work on skinnier ones next time! There’s a great Dan Lepard recipe which would actually be perfect for burgers which you might like…
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2010/07/27/dan-lepards-semolina-bbq-buns/
Thanks, Celia. Pinned it. :)
Now that’s a burger to be proud of Celia. I haven’t ever made a burger with breadcrumbs or egg although that would be what I use for meatloaf which makes them cousins I think. Here in the States I think we all pretty much go with straight meat then add as many crazy toppings as people can come up with. Now I can’t tell you how impressed I am that you made the buns! You might think they look fat but they just look beautiful to me.
Looks very tasty and juicy. I caramelize onions and add them to the meat and then stuff the patty with 3 chances of cheddar and then grill them. The buns are store made….you know mea and baking…
I have a few other Jamie books and def will add this one to my wishlist! Many of his recipes are great to veganise, that’s why we enjoy them! Nothing quite as good as a homemade burger!
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