Marinara Pizza Burger
Here is a simple recipe with a distinct Italian flavour. The Marinara Pizza Burger is topped with a very basic garlic, olive oil and tomato sauce. To the original Italian pizza recipe I have taken the liberty of adding mozzarella cheese — you might prefer to leave it out.
This Marinara Pizza Burger uses the Basic Hamburger patty as a base (recommended) but you could use any store-bought burger patty for convenience.
Serves 4
For the Base
- 4 Basic Hamburger patties
For the Topping
- 2 canned tomatoes, peeled and chopped into small cubes, mixed with a generous teaspoon of tomato puree — alternatively use 4 to 5 tablespoons of pizza sauce for convenience
- 1 small dash olive oil
- 1/2 to 1 clove garlic, crushed or finely chopped (depending on how much you like garlic!)
- 2 pinches dried oregano (only 1 pinch if using pizza sauce)
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- Mozzarella cheese, sliced enough to cover 4 patties, or about a handful of grated dry mozzarella
For the Rolls
- 4 fresh rolls, about the same size as the patties
- Butter
Method
Add the olive oil, garlic, oregano and pepper to the tomato mix and stir through.
The patties should preferably be broiled under a grill or cooked on a Weber-style barbecue with the lid on. Grill or broil the patties until half cooked and flip them over (how to regulate cooking temperature) .
- Barbecue: immediately spoon the sauce onto the patties, cover liberally with cheese and put the lid on.
- Oven or broiler: wait a minute or two after turning before adding the sauce and cheese.
- Frying pan: pre-warm the sauce before spooning onto the turned patties, add the cheese and cover with a lid.
The burgers are ready (when is my patty cooked?) when the cheese has melted.
Split the rolls and toast the cut surfaces lightly (under the grill, on the barbecue or in a dry pan) just before the patties are done. Spread a little butter on the toasted surfaces and add the patty.
You could use 4 rolls and top the patty with the other half but I prefer them open-faced — your choice!
Bon Appétit!