Burger and Fries Friday: Cuban-Style Burgers

You guys, this is a good burger. A really, really good one. I can see how Bobby Flay won his Burger Throwdown with this recipe. It really is that good! All the flavors work so perfectly together. It's just like a Cuban sandwich on a bun. Except I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this is even more delicious than a traditional Cuban sandwich.

I made a few changes to the recipe, because I have to be me. I added hamburger seasoning and Worcestershire sauce to the burgers themselves, and I used honey mustard instead of Dijon, because Joe doesn't like any other kind and I can't get enough of the stuff lately. I also used garlic powder instead of roasted garlic in the mayonnaise, just for convenience's sake. These changes are reflected below. The only thing I'd do differently next time is that I'd wait to put the mayo and mustard on the burgers until after I'd already pressed them. These burgers were supposed to be pressed, panini-style, but the sauce on them made them all slippery. I think the whole "pressing" aspect would have worked better if the sauces were left off until afterwards.

Other than that one little thing, though, these burgers were absolutely perfect. Joe proclaimed them "the best burger we've had in a while," and I couldn't get enough of them either. Even Andrew seemed to enjoy the few bites he got. These are definitely going to become a staple in our house!

Pressed Cuban-Style Burgers

Source: adapted from Food Network

1 pound ground chuck

Hamburger seasoning

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup honey mustard
4 hamburger buns
4 slices thinly sliced smoked ham
8 slices thinly sliced Swiss cheese
8 sandwich-style pickle slices

1. Combine ground chuck, hamburger seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Form the meat into 4 burgers. Cook in a saute pan over high heat to desired doneness.

2. Meanwhile, combine the mayonnaise and garlic powder in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spread both sides of each bun with mayonnaise and honey mustard.

3. Place a slice of cheese on the bottom portion of each bun, place the burger on top of the cheese, top the burger with a slice of ham, then another slice of cheese, then the pickle slices.

4. Place the tops of the bun over the pickles and cook on a sandwich press -- or wrap the burgers in aluminum foil and cook in a hot skillet over high heat with a heavy skillet placed on top of the burger -- to press the sandwich. Cook until golden brown and cheese has melted.