Spicy Whopper-style flame-grilled burger with jalapeños

The Whopper with attitude — flame-grilled patty, pepper jack cheese, crispy onions, fresh jalapeños and a chipotle mayo. Hot enough to wake you up, not so hot you can’t taste the beef.

Ingredients

• 300 g beef mince (15% fat)
• 2 sesame-seed buns
• 2 slices pepper jack cheese (or mature cheddar + a few jalapeño slices)
• 1/2 cup pickled jalapeño slices
• 1/2 small onion, sliced into rings
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 2 lettuce leaves
• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tsp chipotle paste (or smoked paprika + a pinch of cayenne)
• Crispy fried onions (store-bought are fine)
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 tsp sunflower oil

Method

1. Make the chipotle mayo. Stir the chipotle paste into the mayonnaise until evenly mixed and a pale orange colour. Taste and adjust — you want warmth, not blowtorch.

2. Shape the patties. Two equal balls pressed into patties slightly larger than the bun. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.

3. Sear hard. Cast-iron or griddle at maximum heat with the oil. Lay patties down, don’t move for 90 seconds.

4. Flip. Add the cheese slices to the patties as soon as you flip so they melt while the second side cooks. Another 60-90 seconds.

5. Toast the buns. Cut-side down on the griddle for 30 seconds until golden.

6. Build the burger. Chipotle mayo on the bottom bun, then lettuce, patty (cheese up), tomato, onion rings, jalapeños, crispy onions, top bun. Press gently.

7. Serve hot. Goes well with cold beer.

Notes

If you can’t find pepper jack, mature cheddar works but adds less heat , bump the chipotle up by half a teaspoon.