Friday Food Fest: Homemade Burgers

I haven’t done a Friday Food blog in a while and this week, I am in the mood to try some Ostrich and can I have that as a burger please? Yes, I can and so can you! Late last year the food editor of Weg / go!, Aletta Linveldt, wrote a recipe book to celebrate the weekend, food –style and the name? ...  go! Weekend Food. This book is packed full of easy to make recipes for the outdoors, indoors and where ever you want to put some doors over a weekend! I highly recommend this book for your cooking library!


So, you might be wondering about ostrich meat... Here is the skinny ... Quite literally...

In a nutshell

Ostrich meat contains two thirds less fat than beef or pork. It is lean, lower in cholesterol, has less calories and has more iron than beef, lamb, pork and even chicken or turkey. This red meat is in my opinion a super meat! It looks like beef and is so similar in taste, minus the cumbersome qualities of its almost twin.

So ladies and gents... here is my loving contribution to the upkeep of your health, plus the glam of brie, red wine (also good for you in small doses) and berry sauce! Bon Appetit and enjoy the weekend, compliments of go! Weekend Food. Try it for yourself, don't take my word for it!

Ostrich burger with brie

Serves 4

 

400 g minced ostrich

200 g fatty minced beef

¼ teaspoon ground lemon pepper

2 tablespoons soy sauce

¼ cup red wine

100 g of Brie cheese

1 tablespoon of berry sauce

Combine 400 g minced ostrich with 200 g fatty minced beef. Season with ¼ teaspoon ground

lemon pepper, 2 tablespoons soy sauce and ¼ cup red wine. Knead well and divide into 4 balls.

Cut the skin off 100 g of Brie cheese (or use goat’s cheese) and divide the cheese into 4 balls. Wrap

a ball of cheese in a ball of mince – make sure the cheese is completely covered by the meat – and

shape into a fl at patty. Refrigerate until fi rm. Braai the patties for 3 minutes on each side, basting with braai sauce throughout. Be careful not to overcook the patties – ostrich meat has more fl avour when partially cooked. Also remember that the patties have cheese in the middle, so they will cook much quicker. Spread 1 tablespoon of berry sauce (like cranberry) over each patty and serve with rocket leaves on a slice of bread.

Tips: For best results, place the raw patties in the freezer for 20 minutes. Rub with olive oil and braai over hot coals or fry them in a very hot pan. For a winning braai sauce, mix equal amounts of tomato sauce, soy sauce and honey. For a juicy burger, braai the patties until halfway cooked and finish in the oven.

Click here for more info on this book!