OKLAHOMA ONION BURGERS

 Serves 2. The recipe is easily doubled or tripled.

Ingredients 

 

1/2of a large onion, sliced 1/8-inch thick

¼ teaspoon salt and pepper

8 ounces lean ground beef or ground turkey  

1/2tablespoon unsalted butter   

1/2teaspoon vegetable oil

4 slices of American cheese

2hamburger buns, buttered and toasted

 Directions

Combine onions and salt in a bowl and toss to combine. Let sit 30 minutes, tossing occasionally. Using tongs, transfer onions to a clean kitchen towel, gather edges, and squeeze onions dry. Transfer to bowl, and season with ½ teaspoon pepper.

 Divide the onion mixture into 2 separate mounds on the baking sheet. Form meat into 2 lightly packed balls, and season all over with salt and pepper. Place meatballs on top of onion mounds, and flatten meat firmly so onions adhere and patties measure 4½-inches in diameter. 

 Melt butter with oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Using a spatula, transfer burgers to the skillet, onion side down, and cook until onions are deep golden brown and beginning to crisp around edges, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip burgers, increase the heat to high, and cook until well browned on the second side, about 2 minutes. Place American cheese on each bun bottom. Transfer burgers to buns, add desired toppings, and serve.