Beef and Parmesan burgers recipe

The secret to the super-savouriness of these burgers is the mince mix. Basil, chillies and mustard are combined together and bound with a beaten egg. But the ingredient that really lifts them to another level is grated Parmesan. These burgers make a great alternative to the traditional cheeseburger and would be an excellent addition to a summer BBQ, casual dinner party, or if your teens want to impress their friends with a spiced-up version of their favourite snack. Once the main ingredients have been blended, simply mix the mince with the Parmesan breadcrumbs, shape into burger patties and then fry.

Ingredients

• 2 dried red chillies, finely chopped
• Half a red onion, peeled and finely chopped
• 8-10 basil leaves picked and chopped
• 1 large free-range egg
• Handful of breadcrumbs
• 1tsp Dijon mustard
• 2tbsp freshly grated Parmesan
• A good pinch of ground nutmeg
• 500g beef mince
• Oil, for frying
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Put all the ingredients except the beef into a food processor and whiz until thoroughly combined.
2. With your hands, mix the mince and the Parmesan-breadcrumbs mixture together. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Shape into two burger patties. I used metal food rings, purely for aesthetic reasons.
4. Heat a little oil in a frying pan and cook the burgers for around 10 mins, flipping every 2 mins. You want a nice crust on either side of the burgers, and to ensure they are cooked all the way through.