England Calling
Grilled Pineapple Burger
My children absolutely adore British burgers, and truth be told, we have become quite the fans ourselves. But let's dive into this somewhat controversial topic from a different perspective. Now, for some reason, I never really noticed wisteria – that lush purple ivy – in London before. When I lived in the Swiss Cottage area, it was all about magnolias, cherries and lilacs. But after moving to Highgate, it was like a veil had been lifted from my eyes: I noticed those pale, dreamy clusters adorning every facade. I found myself both delighted and puzzled – it felt just like being in France! Back there, this ivy had grown beautifully over the gates of our house, becoming a romantic symbol for me. I also recall the first time I took my daughter for an entrance exam at the school we moved north for. After the taxi drove off, leaving me behind a wall of rain, I searched for a cafe to pass the time. Arriving at a crossroads, I couldn't spot anything promising. I retreated under a sprawling tree and spent a wet, miserable hour there. But then, how unexpectedly vibrant that neighbourhood turned out to be! It was like an emotional love song! Cafes, shops, smiles from passersby, our home which I filled with furniture and accessories – it had been completely empty before we arrived. Misty mornings, the golden hour, starlit nights. A life constantly buzzing with energy. Now, what does this journey into the unknown have to do with burgers? Let's address this head-on. In the past, I might have wrinkled my nose and firmly declared: no to burgers. Give me high-end French cuisine instead. Yet, after adjusting to life in the UK, I realised that the burgers here are incredibly tasty. Not your average fast-food fare, but rather gourmet burgers crafted as art. Picture this: a burger featuring a flawlessly grilled meat patty topped with onion chutney and blue cheese. Or my personal favourite – a burger with a giant prawn, avocado and sweet chilli sauce. These are burgers that you can customise to your liking. Gluten-free buns, salad instead of bun – all readily available almost everywhere and delivered in about 20 minutes. Naturally, the kids often stage a strike, insisting on their own burgers. And sometimes, it's hard for me to resist. One of the juiciest and most unique burgers I've discovered on London's cosmopolitan streets is the Hawaiian burger with teriyaki sauce and grilled pineapple. Fun fact: In the Victorian era in England, the pineapple symbolised wealth and prosperity, and it still adorns St Paul's Cathedral. Such was its rarity that people didn't eat it, but rented it out for celebrations.
Ingredients
- For the homemade teriyaki sauce:
- 200 ml water
- 50 ml soy sauce
- 50 g brown sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- For 4 burgers:
- 450 g minced beef
- ½ tsp sesame oil
- ½ tsp salt and pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 4 round burger buns
- 8 slices of fresh pineapple
- 4 slices of cheddar cheese
- 8 lettuce leaves
- Optional: 1 red onion, salt, juice of ½ lemon and 1 tomato
Method
- 1Start by preparing the teriyaki sauce. Mix the water, soy sauce, sugar, honey, toasted sesame seeds, grated ginger and garlic powder. Heat gently, then add cornflour to thicken. Adjust the consistency as needed. Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 15 minutes.
- 2Toast the burger buns in a toaster or on a grill. Grill the pineapple until grill marks appear.
- 3Mix the sesame oil into the mince, then shape it into 4 patties. Season with salt, pepper and paprika. Grill for 4 minutes on each side over a medium-high heat. Top with a slice of cheddar and allow it to melt slightly.
- 4Assemble the burgers: slice the buns, place lettuce leaves on the bottom bun, add the meat patty with cheese and pineapple slice. Drizzle with teriyaki sauce. Optionally, add a slice of tomato and red onion: thinly slice and marinate briefly in lemon juice and salt. Top with the other half of the bun and serve warm.
