Vote: What Toppings Make for the Best Burger? by Maria Russo in Shows, March 5th, 2013
Flavors were the primary talk of Boot Camp on Sunday’s episode of Worst Cooks in America: which tastes work best together, which ingredients should never be paired and what flavors are most successful in sweet treats and savory picks. The recruits tackled these questions and more as they experimented with signature combinations while crafting from-scratch gelato and handmade hamburgers in an attempt to test their palates.
During the Main Dish Challenge in which contestants from both teams battled for burger glory, the mentors demonstrated that even seemingly unusual ingredients can and often do work well together. In true Bobby Flay form, the Blue Team leader added a topping of potato chips to his beefy creation, “crunchifying” the burger from between the buns. Chef Anne Burrell, too, embraced the untraditional by making for the Red Team a Greek-inspired lamb patty finished with a creamy tzatziki spread. Both of the chefs’ creative additions to the everyday burger proved successful, but many of the recruits’ efforts were simply disappointing, including Sue’s mozzarella-stuffed patties that barely held their shape, Carrie Lee’s chicken burgers that were burned and of course Alex’s overwhelming “burg-dog” and Aadip’s grilled cheese sandwich, which was hardly a burger at all.
When it comes to building your ultimate burger, what toppings do you reach for? Are you a traditionalist who craves nothing else on the patty except a slice of cheese, or do you embrace multiple flavors and textures by adding salty bacon, a runny fried egg or cool lettuce? Have you taken to Chef Bobby’s penchant for “crunchified” burgers? Did Chef Anne inspire you to consider Mediterranean flavors?
Vote for your ultimate burger toppings below, and be sure to tell us in the comments if you have other favorite toppings.
Tune in to a brand-new episode of Worst Cooks in America on Sunday, March 10 at 9pm/8c.
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More posts from Maria Russo.
Tags: Worst Cooks in America
I am vegan but the few times we indulge in a burger, I love rather odd things, such as avocado and nice raw slice of red onion. My sweetie is a cheese monger by trade (also vegan but I digress) and introduced me to trying different cheeses on my burger such as various bleus, gruyere, very, very old cheddar and even feta. Basically, the more odorous the cheese, the more likely it will wind up on my burger! But regardless…must still have raw red onion.
I don't think you can claim to be "vegan" and still partake of the flesh of animals!
"Veganism (/ˈviːgənɪzəm/) is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, as well as an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of sentient animals. A follower of veganism is known as a vegan."
I myself support PETA – People Eating Tasty Animals! Join us!
Well then, since you insist on dictionary cut and past, I shall cut and paste a bit from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary to make my point as follows:
Definition of INDULGE
transitive verb
1
a : to give free rein to b : to take unrestrained pleasure in : gratify
b : to take unrestrained pleasure in : gratify
My defination of indulge is as follows: It means something that is done on a very infrequent basis.
e.g. If I am at a function that takes food choices away from me, I will eat what is available.
If you are so hung up on definations and if it will aid in the removal of the crimp in your shorts, I can define my eating habits as plant strong. Or you can take this up with me privately and avoid stealing a rather interesting thread. Your choice.
Potato chips on a burger sound really bad for you but yummy!
Not get off subject, Potato chips are great on most things! But they are Really good on the tuna sald sandwich under the bread..
I put sour cream and onion potato chips crumbled on my beef stroganoff it gives it a great crunchy bite.
I've tried different burgers at different times with different toppings – steak sauce, barbecue sauce, grilled pineapple, mango salsa, avocado mayo, pulled pork, ham, coleslaw, jalapeno, blue cheese, etc. I honestly cannot decide which one I like the best so I think, for me, being able to eat and taste a variety of toppings on burgers is great.
Oh, I forgot to mention different hot sauces (such as sriracha, tabasco, etc.) and different hot peppers (chipotle, pickled peppers, etc.)…not all at the same time, of course.
I make a Nacho burger. It has refried beans (that I make myself), raw onions, jalapeno peppers and sharp cheddar cheese all on a toast English Muffin. (Yes, I stole it from the original Friday's menu back in the 70s).
The favorite indulgence, bacon, blue cheese, thin sliced red onion and crisp lettuce! Yum, I am dreaming of it now.
I just would really like to know how much did you pay Aadip to try to grill the cheese solo?
Bacon, bacon, and lots of bacon with cheese, lettuce, and a little catchup on one beef patty. I'll cut the cholesterol somewhere else – and remember to take my cholesterol medicine every day!
Burgers are the perfect canvas for all kinds of topping combo's- I Love pizza burgers with marinara, mozzarella, grilled mushrooms and fried genoa salami or Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, and olives. I enjoy southern flavors too…goober burgers with mayo, peanut butter, and bacon; chili burgers with coleslaw/ or just topped with pimento cheese….
Ketchup, sauted onions and mushrooms, melted swiss and provolone on and bed of lettuce and pickles, chips on the side and a glass of Hang Town!
Lettuce, tomato ,Mayo on Burger cooked on grill don't get no better….