Behold the burger of all burgers. This was the first time I have ever made a burger myself and I am proud to say that it was the tastiest burger I have ever eaten! Usually I just go to fast food restaurants, with the occasional backyard barbeque in which my Dad did all the cooking. However, over spring break, I got a major craving for a burger and had no place to go buy one. It was time to get creative.
For spring break this year, I got the opportunity to go to Miami Beach with my two great friends Devon and Steph. My parents also joined us for part of the time. The trip was amazing! It was just the break we needed from our hectic lives this semester. The trip was the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure but throughout the entire vacation we ate delicious food!
This brings me to the burger. We have here a mozzarella stuffed Neapolitan burger complete with pesto aioli and grilled prosciutto. This was heavenly! I surprised not only myself but also my friends and Mom. The burgers were gigantic, about half a pound each. None of us thought we would make it through one, however they were so tasty that all of us ended up eating seconds. The meat was very flavorful because I had mixed freshly chopped basil and garlic into the meat. Then there was the fresh crunchy lettuce and the rich pesto aioli as a condiment. The prosciutto added a wonderful salty kick. However, it was the mozzarella that made the burger amazing. Imagine biting into a hot juicy burger that is so big you can barely fit it in your mouth and when you bite down, out oozes melted mozzarella cheese. I even added an additional slice of melted mozzarella on top of the meat patty for good measure. All in all, this meal was divine. What seemed like a simple American meal was transformed into an amazing taste experience. This burger, in conjunction with stories from my Mom’s college years that she had never previously shared, made for a great kick off to the best spring break I have had to date.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Lean ground Beef
- Fresh Chopped Basil
- Minced
- Finely Chopped Onion
- Bread Crumbs
- 1 Egg
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Salt and Pepper
- Pesto Sauce
- Mayonnaise
- Lettuce
- Prosciutto
- Sesame Seed Buns
When it came to making the patties, I combined the strategy of making meatballs with making juicy lucys. I divided the Beef into two bowls and made different mixtures. I added basil, salt, pepper, and onion to both mixtures. Onions are very important because they ensure that the meat is juicy and does not dry out when cooked. In one bowl I added finely chopped mozzarella and minced garlic. This was to be the inside of the patty. To the other mixture I added one egg and some breadcrumbs to create a lighter outside layer for the inner, gooey cheese and garlic mixture. I then formed small balls out of the cheese and meat mixture then covered them in a layer of the breadcrumb and meat mixture. I flattened the meatballs into the shape of a burger patty and voila, we’re in business. The pesto aioli was one of my favorite additions and it was very easy to make! I simply mixed mayonnaise with pesto and some minced garlic then let it sit so the flavors could mesh with one another. I definitely plan on repeating this recipe for future pool party barbeques in the summer.
