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Bon Appétit

Sunny Side Burger with Salsa Verde

4.4

(2)

Side view of the burger with a runny egg and sals spread on both sides.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich

What’s better than a griddled burger with the crispiest exterior? One that comes sandwiched between a vibrant tomatillo salsa and topped with a runny fried egg. Most domestic grass-fed beef includes cattle that also eat some grain; the meat is not too lean or “grassy” and makes for a very satisfying burger.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 4

Ingredients

Salsa Verde

1 lb. tomatillos, husks removed, rinsed
1 small onion, peeled, quartered
3 jalapeños, sliced in half lengthwise
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
1 cup cilantro leaves with tender stems
2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Assembly

20 oz. grass-fed ground beef (20% fat)
4 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
4 soft sesame seed buns, split
4 large eggs

Preparation

  1. Salsa Verde

    Step 1

    Heat broiler. Toss tomatillos, onion, and jalapeños with oil on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet; season with salt. Broil until blackened in spots and very soft, 12–15 minutes. Let vegetables cool slightly, then transfer to a food processor. Add cilantro and black pepper; pulse until coarsely chopped (3 or 4 pulses). Taste salsa verde and season with more salt if needed.

    Do Ahead: Salsa verde can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to a small bowl; cover and chill.

  2. Assembly

    Step 2

    Portion beef into 4 loosely packed balls (5 oz. each). Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high until just beginning to smoke. Add 2 Tbsp. oil, then all 4 balls of meat. Firmly smash down on meat with a heavy metal spatula to create a craggy-edged 4"-diameter patty; season with salt and pepper. Cook, undisturbed, until deeply charred underneath, about 3 minutes. Flip and season other side with salt and pepper; cook to medium, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let rest.

    Step 3

    Carefully wipe out skillet with a paper towel, leaving only a light coating of oil. Set skillet over medium heat. Working in 2 batches, toast buns, cut side down, until golden brown, about 1 minute. Transfer to a clean surface.

    Step 4

    Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Crack eggs into skillet and cook until whites are just set and edges are crisp, about 4 minutes. Season with salt.

    Step 5

    Spread insides of both tops and bottoms of buns with a heaping tablespoonful of salsa verde. Place a burger on each bottom bun, top with an egg, sunny side up, and close burger.

TagsBurgerTomatilloVegetableJalapeñoChileCilantroHerbs & SpicesGround BeefBeefMeatMainDinnerDairy FreeQuickEasyWeeknight MealsFood ProcessorBon Appétit

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