Matthew McConaughey is one of the finest actors actors of his generation, and he’s even got an Oscar to prove it. The star of Dallas Buyer’s Club, Interstellar, The Gentleman, the first season of True Detective, Failure to Launch, and many more classics besides, is also known for being pretty useful in the kitchen.
You may well have seen a YouTube Short or two of him discussing his unconventional but well-reviewed spin on a tuna salad, featuring peas, jalapeño chips, wasabi, dill pickles, and white wine vinegar to name just a few unusual ingredients.
It’s not the only dish where he’s got some unusual wisdom to impart: he’s got another great hack that’s all about burgers.
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Speaking in a YouTube clip from ‘America’s Test Kitchen’, McConaughey was asked how he’d have his last-ever cheeseburger.
"I like a small, soft white bread bun. I like that old cheap bun," he began.
Then he revealed the secret ingredient, with an added detail to bring it all to life: "I like to put a little bit of onion soup mix in my beef. I want high fat content in my beef for this burger, I don't want low-fat."
That’s the kind of idea that sounds good as soon as you hear it, doesn’t it?
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On top of that blended patty he’d have some American cheese, shredded iceberg lettuce, red onion slices, some jalapeños, Texas Heat dill pickles, avocado and some bacon if the chef will allow it, all encased in a steamed white bun.
The man sure does love him some jalapeños, doesn’t he?
As for the onion soup mix, it’s a great way to season a beefburger. The strong flavours pair well with the beef, while the high salt content will season it without needing an extra grind. A typical onion soup mix will contain onions, sugar, salt and soy sauce, with that last one giving providing a savoury umami flavour that will elevate the meatiness even further.
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You could also use onion soup mix as a seasoning for roast potatoes, a chilli, mac and cheese, or as a dusting on top of a pasta bake.
If you want to give it a try in a homemade burger, you need to blend the onion soup mix into the ground beef before you cook it. Add a little water, and consider cooking a little chunk of beef as you go to figure out the right balance between the beef and soup mix.
Taking things a little further, you could consider finely chopping some onions to blend into the burger. For the more adventurous, you could do something similar with chopped peppers, garlic, mushrooms, and herb blends like oregano, thyme and parsley.
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Blending burger meat with cheese is another great option, infusing the patty with the melted cheesy goodness during the cooking process and potentially caramelising it all a little bit.
Alternatively you could add a square of your favourite cheese in the centre of the patty to give it a gooey heart – that one’s a particular hit with the kids.
Have you got any burger-making hacks to share? Seeing as barbecue weather is firmly upon, now’s the time to share the wealth.
Rachael Davis