PORTILLOS BURGER RECIPES

Steps:

• separate the meat into two 1/3 lb portions and roll them into balls. Place one ball between two sheets of wax paper and press with a medium pot until the patty is about 1/4 inch thick (it should be about 6-7 inches in diameter. Repeat for the second patty.
• Preheat the grill and gently place the patties on the grill. Set to low and cover. This should only take about 2-3 minutes on one side and 2 on the other. Each grill is different so keep your eye on it.
• Meanwhile coat each side of the kaiser bun lightly with butter and warm it on the stovetop or in a cool part of the grill just until the inside begins to crisp up.
• Coat each side of the bun with half the mayo and half the ketchup. When the meat is cooked, layer the burger like this: Bottom bun, one slice, american cheese, first patty, second slice of american cheese, second patty, lettuce leaf, 4 large pickle chips, one slice of tomato (or two if the tomato doesn't cover the whole burger), one slice of red onion, top bun.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Render the beef fat by chopping it into small bits (about the size of peas) with a food processor. Be sure the fat is very cold--it will chop better. If you don't have a food processor, you can chop the fat by hand. Use a sharp knife and cut it as small as you can. Heat up the fat in a sauté pan over medium heat until the bits are browned. Strain the solids from the fat and measure 1/4 cup of fat for the gravy.
• Make the beef gravy by combining all of the ingredients, including the beef fat, in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When the mixture begins to boil reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, then turn the heat to low.
• Make the sandwiches by heating up the rolls in the hot oven for 3 minutes.
• For each sandwich, drop 1/4 pound of sliced beef (separate the slices) into the gravy for 2 minutes. Make sure the gravy isn't boiling. It should be around 180 degrees F. After the beef has soaked in the gravy, use tongs to arrange the beef on a warmed sandwich roll and top with your choice of hot giardiniera or sweet peppers. Or both. Spoon on some extra gravy just before serving.