Da’flava jerk burger

The term ‘jerk’ refers to a way of cooking meat and to a spice blend, both of which are traditional to Jamaica. This burger combines a blend of jerk herbs and spices, as well as melted cheese, caramelised onions and jerk barbecue sauce, creating a juicy burger that’s filled with flavours of the Caribbean. To ensure your burgers hold together well while cooking, rest the raw patties in the fridge for an hour before they go on the grill.

SERVES: 6 TAKES: 35 MINS PLUS 1 HR CHILLING

INGREDIENTS

1kg beef mince

2 tsp allspice

4 tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

1 tsp browning sauce or dark soy sauce squeeze of lime juice

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 medium onion, ¼ chopped

and ¾ sliced

2 scotch bonnet peppers,

deseeded and diced

2 spring onions, finely sliced

1 tsp dried thyme 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

60ml white wine vinegar

1 egg, lightly beaten vegetable oil, for frying

6 square slices of cheese

6 lettuce leaves jerk barbecue sauce sweet potato fries or coleslaw, to serve

METHOD

Put the beef mince in a mixing bowl and add the allspice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, browning sauce, lime juice, garlic, chopped onion, scotch bonnets, spring onions, thyme, black pepper, white wine vinegar and egg. Mix thoroughly, then divide the mixture into six and mould each section into the shape of a burger. Place on a

plate or tray, cover and chill in the fridge for 1 hr.

Lightly oil a griddle or frying pan and set over a medium heat. Add the burgers in batches of two or three and cook for a few minutes on each side until browned to your liking. Put a slice of cheese on each burger to melt.

Set the burgers aside and keep warm. Sauté the sliced onion in 1 tbsp vegetable oil until well done.

Place a lettuce leaf on the base of each bun, then add a cheese-topped burger, the sautéed onions and a layer of jerk barbecue sauce. Serve with sweet potato fries or coleslaw.

Taken from Original Flava by Craig and Shaun Mcanuff (Bloomsbury Publishing, £22)