5 Trendy Burger Recipes (Slideshow)
When "Go Ramen" food blogger Keizo Shimamoto debuted his Ramen Burger creation at Smorgasburg this summer, people took notice. His invention features two ramen noodle buns as the main attraction, with a shoyu-seasoned burger patty topped with arugula and green onions. Although it's often assumed that Shimamoto merely used ramen noodles straight out of the packet, the recipe is a little more complicated — and the chef has yet to reveal his secret formula. Knowing that making the ramen "bun" involves cooking the noodles, we took a stab at recreating this burger at home, mixing them with an egg, and then pan-frying them.
The 'Luther' Donut Burger Recipe
The "Luther" Donut Burger is one of the unhealthiest burgers to date, averaging at around 1,000 calories per burger. Although the origins of the donut burger are mostly speculative — its name is often attributed to R&B singer Luther Vandross — many restaurants have incorporated the trend into their menus. They're classically made with two donuts (or one cut lengthwise) instead of buns, and comprised of a hamburger patty, cheese, and bacon. To make your own version at home, simply choose your favorite brand of donuts and build your personalized burger between them.
In-N-Out's 'Double Double Animal Style' Burger Recipe
The In-N-Out "Double Double" burger — served off-the-menu "Animal Style" — is a West Coast burger legend. To put the craze into perspective, people have gone as far as to freeze-dry the In-N-Out classics and ship them cross-country. Whether it's due to the secret sauce (that some believe is really just Thousand Island dressing), the caramelized onions, or the fact that the burger patties are never frozen, it's clear that this is an iconic burger that's worth making at home.
Click here to see the In-N-Out's 'Double Double Animal Style' Burger Recipe
Umami Burger Ketchup Recipe
Adam Fleischman invented the Umami burger in 2009 after figuring out that one of the main tastes that diners love in burgers and pizza is umami, the fifth taste popular in Japanese cuisine. In order to play up that flavor in the Umami Burger, toppings like an aged Parmesan crisp, oven-roasted tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms (naturally high in umami), and caramelized onions accentuate the taste, while a Portuguese bun holds it all together while adding texture.
The burger patty is seasoned with Fleischman's Umami "Master" Sauce, which includes seaweed, tamari, and miso, and his Umami "Dust," a secret mixture that includes konbu and dried mushrooms, as well as some salt and pepper. To bring it altogether, Umami ketchup kicks up the flavor with added fish sauce and mushrooms. The combination of all of the ingredients creates a hint of Japanese cuisine that's thrown into a classical American burger.
The Pretzel Burger Bun Recipe
Wendy's unveiled its Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger this summer in the hopes of creating a frenzy — and they succeeded. Their new burger is a reincarnation of their "Hot 'N Juicy" cheeseburger with a honey mustard sauce, Cheddar cheese, and applewood-smoked bacon, nestled in the middle of a warm artisanal pretzel bun.
Other fast-food restaurants have launched pretzel bun sandwiches of their own, including Dunkin' Donuts' Pretzel Roll Roast Beef Sandwich, Sonic's Pretzel Dogs, and Ruby Tuesday's full menu of Pretzel Burgers. The variations are endless, so we've given you a start with a pretzel bun recipe.