This is a nice classic summer hamburger recipe that has all the good stuff- the caramelized onions, crunchy bacon and melted Cheddar cheese.
It’s best to make these in good company, there are a lot of parts in this recipe and together it just is way more fun. That can make the whole evening turn out great 😇

For the burger meat
500-550 g ground beef, if possible, ask to have 10-15% lard or 30% fattier beef ground into the mass
Salt and pepper

For the caramelized onions
2 tbsp olive oil for cooking
1 tbsp butter for cooking
4 medium onions, cut in half rings
1 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar

For the additives
1 medium tomato, cut in fat slices
8 bacon strips, fried crispy
4 slices of Cheddar cheese, matured is best

The sauces
4 tbsp ketchup
4 tbsp mayo or Greek yogurt mixed with 1 tsp Worchestire sauce

The bread
4 burger buns, cut horizontally and toasted
Optional: pickles, mustard salad

Makes 4 burgers

1. Peel the onions and cut in half rings. On a frying pan, heat the oil and butter and cook the onions on medium heat until they turn golden. Then add a tbsp of sugar and let it caramelize. Then add 2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar, stir everything and on low heat sautée for about 20 min.
2. In the mean time- prepare the meat. Mold 4 equal sized patties and create a little pit in the center. Each burger should have at least 125 g of meat.
3. When the patties are prepared, generously sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
4. Slice the tomato starting at the bottom (instead of the side) in large slices.
5. Mix the Worchestire sauce with the Greek yogurt, or you can use a delicious high quality mayo.
6. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees (celsius) and place the bacon strips on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven until crunchy and golden.
7. Heat the grill you will be using and place the meat patties with the pit down first. To get the meat to a medium,leave it to cook on each side for 3-4 min.Once the patty is turned over, place the cheese slice on top to melt. Close the lid of the grill so the cheese can melt better.
8. 2 min before the meat is done, place the burger buns on the grill to toast slightly.
9. Time to assemble the hamburgers! Put sauce on the bottom bun, then caramelized onions, then meat, tomato, bacon and pickles if desired. Ketchup goes on the top bun and place that on the stacked burger, press down firmly so it holds together better.

Recipe: Ārija Avota
Photo: Ieva Andersone (IG: @photoievaandersone)