Maple bacon jammer

Two 3oz 60/40 patties, topped with a sticky maple bacon jam, double mature cheddar and sliced gherkins. In partnership with Eat Curious.

Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 20 minutes. No. of servings: 4

Ingredients

• 40ml Jim Beam whiskey
• 8 x blended beef burgers
• 4 x brioche buns
• 8 x slices mature white cheddar cheese
• 5ml lemon juice
• 60ml maple syrup
• 30ml apple cider vinegar
• 30ml dijon mustard
• 15ml mayonnaise
• 120g pickled gherkins
• 5ml worcestershire sauce
• 30g soft brown sugar
• 200g smoked streaky bacon
• 100g onions
• 1 x little gem lettuce
• 30g garlic
• 40g red onion

Method

1. Make the maple bacon jam

Cook the bacon in a cold frying pan over medium heat for 8-10 minutes until crisp and caramelised.

Remove most of the fat, leaving 1 tbsp in the pan. Add the onion and cook until soft, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Stir in the maple syrup, brown sugar, vinegar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika and bourbon (or water). Simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick, dark and sticky.

Season with black pepper and leave to cool slightly before serving.

2. Make the salad

Mix the mayonnaise, Dijon, lemon juice and salt together.

Toss through the shredded lettuce, tomato and red onion just before serving. Keep it fairly lightly dressed, the burger already has plenty of richness.

3. Cook the burgers

Take the beef patties straight from the fridge and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat a heavy frying pan, griddle or barbecue until very hot.

Cook the patties for roughly 2-3 minutes per side, depending on thickness and your preferred doneness. Don’t press them down while cooking, you want to keep the juices inside. During the final minute, put a slice of mature cheddar on each patty and allow it to melt. For each burger, you’re using two 3oz patties, so stack two cheesy patties together.

4. Toast the brioche

Cut the brioche rolls and lightly butter the cut sides.

Toast them cut-side down in the burger pan for 30-60 seconds until golden. The slight caramelisation helps the bun stand up to the jam.

5. Build the maple bacon jammer

For each burger:

1. Bottom brioche bun
2. Maple bacon jam
3. Salad
4. Double cheeseburger patties
5. Sliced gherkins
6. A little extra maple bacon jam
7. Top brioche bun