Original Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers

Original Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers



Chili
1 pound ground beef (not lean)*
1/4 cup flour plus 1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/3 cups beef broth
4 cups water
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoon grated (and then chopped) carrot
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3 pounds ground beef
8 hamburger buns
16 slices Kraft cheddar cheese Singles
1/2 cup diced onion
32 to 40 hamburger pickles (slices)
8 slices large beefsteak tomato (1/2-inch thick)
1/4 cup yellow mustard


1. Prepare the chili by first browning the meat in a large saucepan over medium heat. Crumble
the meat as it browns. When the meat has been entirely cooked (7 to 10 minutes), pour the meat
into a strainer over a large cup or saucepan. Let the fat drip out of the meat for about 5 minutes,
then return the meat back to the first saucepan. Cover and set aside.
2. With the fat from the meat, we will now make a roux -- a French contribution to thicker
sauces and gravies usually made with fat and flour. Heat the drippings in a saucepan over
medium heat (you should have drained off around 1/2 cup of the stuff). When the fat is hot, add
1/4 cup flour to the pan and stir well. Reduce heat to medium/low, and continue to heat the roux,
stirring often until it is a rich caramel color. This should take from 10 to 15 minutes. Add the
beef broth to the pan and stir. Remove from heat.
3. Meanwhile, back at the other pan, add the water to the beef, then whisk in the remaining 1 1/4
cups flour. Add the ro ux/broth mixture and the other chili ingredients and whisk until blended.
Make sure your grated carrot is chopped up to the size of rice before you add it.
4. Crank the heat up to medium/high. Stir often until you see bubbles forming on the surface of
the chili. Turn the heat down to medium/low, and continue to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or
until thick. The chili should be calmly bubbling like lava as it simmers. When it's done cooking,
take the chili off the heat, cover it, and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour before using it on the
burgers. It should thicken to a tasty brown paste as it sits.
5. To make your hamburgers, you'll first divide 3 pounds of hamburger into 16 portions of 3
ounces each. Grill the burgers on in a hot skillet or on an indoor griddle for 4 to 5 minutes per
side or until done. Use some salt and pepper on each patty.
6. Build the burgers by lightly toasting the faces of the hamburger buns. Turn them over into a
hot skillet or a griddle on medium heat.
7. Place one patty onto the bottom bun.
8. Position two slices of cheese on the meat.
9. Place another beef patty on the cheese.
10. Spoon about 1/3 cup of chili onto the beef patty.
11. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of diced onion onto the chili.
12. Arrange 4 to 5 pickle slices on the onion.
13. Place a thick slice of tomato on next.
14. Spread mustard over the face of the top bun and top off your hamburger by turning this bun
over onto the tomato.

Makes 8 burgers. (6 cups of chili.)
*Tidbits
Make sure the ground beef you use has a fat content of at least 20 percent.