The first week of July is inspired by junk foods, BBQs and fireworks. The streets are littered with hotdog wrappings, poutine and soda cups, bloody napkins and what have you. Here in Northern America, BBQ usually means grilled burger patties and sausages, whilst back in the Orient, it generally refers to skewered chunks of meat on a fine bamboo stick… accompanied with stir-fried noodles or rice of course.
I personally prefer grilling over firewood, rather than gas or electric cookers. The flavor of smoke gives it that extra special something that is lacking in stove-top cooked meals. It also gives you that primitive edge 
Though grilling is not considered to be the healthiest choice, I think cooking over firewood is still better than modern substitutes such as gas and lava rocks, which can emit hazardous chemicals to your food. And of course, if you are opting for processed meat, you are likely to double, or make that triple your chances of ingesting carcinogens. Way to go!
Here I am jabbering about grilled meats when in fact the recipe for today is, well, fried. Sometimes grilling is not the quickest way to get to the bottom of your hungry stomach, so you have to explore other options. Anyhow, I am still adamant about grilling homemade, fresh burger patties due to the fear factor of seeing it slowly slither through the metal wires and drop into oblivion. I think in this case, I have to eliminate the fresh greens so it will stay put.
Sauteed Onions and Mushrooms
1 cup mushrooms, sliced thinly
1 big onion, sliced thinly
ghee / clarified butter
smidgen of salt (a hint)
optional: red pepper flakes
- Sauté onions in ghee until semi transparent and soft.
- Add mushrooms, season and continue stirring until cooked.
- Set aside.
Beef Burger Patty
1/2 kg ground beef
1 onion, minced or processed in processor
1 tbsp. garlic powder or freshly minced garlic
3 tbsp. Cilantro (aka Coriander leaves), processed in processor
1 tbsp. oyster sauce or Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. fish sauce
salt and pepper to taste
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
- Shape and flatten the meat into hamburger patties.
- Fry patties on both sides until cooked.
- Drain the extra oil by placing it on a tissue-layered plate.
- Slightly warm burger buns in the toaster. Spread some mayonnaise if preferred.
- Place burger patty and generously top it with the sauteed Onions and Mushrooms.
- …and you know where this is going, blah, blah, blah…
Shut up and indulge.
