My children would have me cook these smash burgers every day, if they could. They absolutely love them. From incredibly simple ingredients comes a delicious dinner. As always with simplicity, the better quality the raw ingredients, the more amazing the outcome. Some really good quality beef and nice mayonnaise being key.
The kimchi mayonnaise is, of course, not essential. I love a flavour-packed sauce though and kimchi is now available in most larger supermarkets. The Cultured Food Company in Clonakilty makes a lovely version. It's also very easy and enjoyable to make your own.
I sometimes just swirl some harissa or sriracha sauce through mayonnaise or Greek yoghurt for a quick sauce. When barbecue season rolls around, I make a burger sauce that contains everything I want in a mouthful. Finely chopped gherkin and raw red onion, a little mustard, ketchup and mayonnaise all mixed till smooth. It’s very handy to have.
Home fries are a great alternative to chips or potato wedges. They should be fluffy and soft inside with a crispy exterior. They can be parboiled in advance and require very little time in the oven, making this the ultimate fast food and much faster than ordering takeaway. This is a real Friday night after a long week dinner. Season the home fries with anything you’d like. I love sweet smoked paprika but have made these with garam masala too, to create a bombay aloo-style dish. On that occasion, I changed up the mayonnaise by adding lime pickle instead of kimchi.
Recipe: Smash Burgers with Home Fries and Kimchi Mayonnaise
