Gourmet Beef Cheeseburger
Homemade Bun

A decadent homemade beef cheeseburger featuring a scratch-made sesame seed bun, juicy beef patty with a pickled jalapeño center, caramelized onions, and a rich mushroom cream sauce.

Ingredients

• 250 g bread flour
• 50 ml water
• 30 g sugar
• 5 g dry yeast
• 100 ml milk
• 1 egg
• 30 g butter
• 500 g ground beef
• 1 white onion
• 2 tomatoes
• 200 g mushrooms
• 4 slices cheddar cheese
• 1 head lettuce
• to taste black and white sesame seeds
• to taste breadcrumbs
• to taste minced garlic
• to taste scallions
• to taste five-spice powder
• to taste rose salt
• to taste black pepper
• to taste black coffee powder
• to taste black soy sauce
• to taste cooking wine
• to taste tarragon
• to taste heavy cream
• to taste starch
• to taste pickled jalapeños

Instructions

1. 1Make the tangzhong paste

   

   Combine water and bread flour in a saucepan and heat over medium heat while stirring continuously with a whisk. Maintain the temperature around 65 degrees Celsius until the mixture thickens into a smooth paste. Remove from heat and let it cool before adding to the dough mixture.

   Tip: Whisk constantly while heating to prevent lumps from forming and ensure a smooth, uniform paste.
2. 2Combine the dough ingredients

   

   Place bread flour, sugar, dry yeast, milk, the prepared tangzhong paste, and an egg into the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix all the ingredients together on low to medium speed until they incorporate into a cohesive shaggy dough before kneading further.

   Tip: Ensure your yeast is fresh and the milk is lukewarm to activate the yeast properly without killing it.
3. 3Knead and test the dough

   

   Continue kneading the dough after adding butter until it becomes smooth and elastic. Perform the windowpane test by taking a small piece of dough and gently stretching it between your fingers to see if it forms a translucent membrane without easily tearing.

   Tip: If the dough tears immediately upon stretching, continue kneading for a few more minutes to develop the gluten structure.
4. 4Proof and shape the dough

   

   Cover the kneaded dough with plastic wrap and let it proof in a warm place until it doubles in size. After the first rise, deflate the dough, divide it into equal portions, and shape each portion into a smooth round ball before the second proof.

   Tip: Cover the shaping dough with a damp towel or plastic wrap to prevent the surface from drying out while resting.
5. 5Apply egg wash

   

   Prepare an egg wash by whisking an egg thoroughly in a small container. Gently brush a thin, even layer of the egg wash over the surface of each shaped burger bun dough piece to give them a glossy finish when baked.

   Tip: Brush lightly so the egg wash does not pool around the base of the buns on the baking sheet.
6. 6Add sesame seed topping

   

   Sprinkle a generous amount of black and white sesame seeds evenly over the top of each egg-washed burger bun. Bake the buns in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes until golden brown, then brush with melted butter immediately after baking.

   Tip: Add the seeds immediately after applying the egg wash while it is still sticky so the seeds adhere securely.
7. 7Dice the white onion

   

   Place a peeled white onion on the cutting board and carefully dice it into small uniform pieces using a sharp kitchen knife.

   Tip: Keep the root intact while cutting horizontal and vertical slices to make dicing easier and cleaner.
8. 8Sauté the Diced Onions

   

   Place a frying pan on the stove, add cooking oil, and toss in the freshly chopped diced onions. Sauté them over medium heat until they become translucent and soften, preparing them for the caramelization process.

   Tip: Keep the heat at medium to prevent the onions from burning before they have a chance to soften evenly.
9. 9Slice the Fresh Tomatoes

   

   Take clean vibrant red tomatoes and place them onto a wooden cutting board. Using a sharp kitchen knife while wearing protective kitchen gloves carefully cut the tomatoes into uniform thin slices suitable for burger assembly.

   Tip: Use a sharp knife to slice smoothly through the tomato skin without crushing the juicy interior pulp.
10. 10Cook the Sliced Mushrooms

    

    Add sliced mushrooms to a hot pan with cooking oil and sauté them until tender. Season with black soy sauce, tarragon, heavy cream, salt, black pepper, and seasonings, then thicken the mixture with starch.

    Tip: Allow the mushrooms to release their natural moisture before adding the heavy cream and seasonings for a richer flavor.
11. 11Season the mushrooms

    

    Pour dark soy sauce and heavy cream directly over the sliced mushrooms cooking in the skillet, preparing them to absorb the rich flavors.

    Tip: Add a splash of cooking wine or heavy cream gradually to create a smooth, emulsified sauce.
12. 12Mix the beef patty ingredients

    

    Place ground beef into a large glass bowl along with cooled caramelized onions, breadcrumbs, egg wash, minced garlic, scallions, five-spice powder, rose salt, black pepper, black coffee powder, black soy sauce, and sugar. Thoroughly combine all the ingredients together before shaping them into patties.

    Tip: Ensure the caramelized onions are completely cooled before adding them to the raw beef to maintain the correct mixture texture.

Storage & Reheating

Burn It Off

Frequently Asked Questions