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Surprise Burgers

Editor's note: This recipe is reprinted from Rose Hammick and Charlotte Packer's book Great Parties for Kids. For their tips on throwing a kids' summer party, click here.

Kids will enjoy helping to make these burgers — let them squelch the mixture into patties and hide a piece of cheese in the center. The burgers can be made and frozen well ahead of time — just remember to defrost them well before cooking.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 8 burgers

Ingredients

18 oz (about 2 1/2 cups) ground beef
2 teaspoons tomato ketchup
1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce
4 scallions, finely chopped
1 egg, lightly beaten
4 oz Cheddar cheese, cut into 8 small pieces
flour for dusting
vegetable oil for brushing
8 small part-baked bread rolls
tomato salsa for serving
8 romaine lettuce leaves

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Mix together the beef, sauces, scallions, and egg in a large bowl. With damp hands, divide the mixture into 8 balls, then shape into flat patties.

    Step 2

    Insert a piece of cheese in the center of each patty. Wrap the meat around the cheese and shape into a burger. Place on a lightly floured plate and chill for 30 minutes.

    Step 3

    Brush the burgers with oil and cook on a cast-iron grill-pan or under a hot broiler for 5-8 minutes on each side.

    Step 4

    Meanwhile, bake the rolls according to the manufacturer's instructions. Split them in half and top the bottoms with the cooked burgers, tomato salsa, and a lettuce leaf.

    Step 5

    If you are cooking on a barbecue, place the burgers on a lightly oiled barbecue grill over medium heat, so they do not burn on the outside before being cooked through. Cook for 5-8 minutes on each side.

Reprinted with permission from_Great Parties for Kids_ , Copyright © 2006, by Rose Hammick and Charlotte Packer. , Ryland Peters and Small, Inc.
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