Wendy's Inspired Pretzel Burger
Rating
Can't get to the new UK Wendy's restaurant just yet? Here's how to make one of their iconic square burgers at home..
Ingredients
- 500 g beef mince, about 15% fat
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium egg, beaten
- 30 g white breadcrumbs
- 8 streaky smoked bacon rashers
- 20 g plain flour
- 20 g butter
- 175 ml ale
- 125 g mature Cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 tbsp. English mustard
- Pinch cayenne pepper
- 4 pretzel or brioche burger buns halved (we used Hovis Premium Burger Rolls)
- 50 g shop-bought crispy onions
- Gherkin slices, to serve
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 220°C (200°C Fan). Add the beef mince, onion, egg and breadcrumbs to a mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix together well. Shape into 4 square patties, about 1.5cm thick, then cover and chill until needed.
- Wrap the bacon slices around 8 metal skewers so that they are spiral-shaped and lay onto a foil-lined tray. Alternatively, you can lay the bacon slices flat on the tray without skewers. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden and crispy then carefully remove them from the skewers.
- Meanwhile, to make the beer cheese sauce, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes, then slowly add the ale until smooth then bring to a boil. Cook for 3-4 minutes until thickened then add the cheese, mustard, and cayenne pepper. Season with salt and pepper and stir until the cheese is all melted. Set the sauce aside.
- To cook the burgers, heat a drizzle of oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Transfer to a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes until cooked through. Add the halved burger buns for the final 2 minutes to warm through.
- To assemble, warm the cheese sauce. Layer the burger with the beef patty on the bottom of the burger topped with some of the cheese sauce, followed by bacon, crispy fried onions and gherkins.
