You are undoubtedly wondering, where is the bun? But there’s no bun here. These are, essentially, hamburgers, but they are so much more. First and foremost, they’re unbelievably flavorful—a savory seasoned beef patty with a crunchy crust and a buttery, meaty sauce to accompany it. Second of all, they are simple. In addition, it is economical. Julia Child created these French-style (sans bread) beef patties, which are a fantastic way to use ground beef that feels a little more sophisticated than your standard burger.
First things first, slowly sauté some onions in butter until tender but not browned. Take your time and allow around ten minutes to cook them slowly. Once they’ve cooled slightly, transfer them to a bowl and stir in your patties. You will also need ground beef, salt, pepper, thyme, an egg, and softened butter. Why butter? Why? Because Julia Child says so. (She claims that the greatest hamburgers are made from the leanest beef available and recommends having it ground for you or grinding it yourself.
This manner, you get the finest flavor while also adding some fat back in, such as butter or beef marrow. Julia then instructs you to beat the mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon. The mixture will then be formed into thick patties, about 3/4 inch thick, and chilled until ready to cook. Before cooking the patties, lightly coat them in flour. Brown them in a heated butter/oil combination. That’s all you need to do for the patties, but here’s what makes them unique:
The savory combination of butter, soft onions, and herbs in the patties; the unctuous texture of the butter in the meat; and the wonderful crust that forms on the outside of the patty.There is, of course, a sauce to accompany them.Once the patties are cooked, prepare a fast pan sauce in the same skillet by boiling down some beef stock, wine, or even water and then tossing in some butter once the liquid has turned syrupy.
That is it. That is delicious when spooned over hamburgers.I could conclude with my own thoughts on why you should build these, but I think I’ll let Julia do it instead. She says: Some Americans we’ve met are shocked to find that real French people live in France and eat hamburgers. They do eat hamburgers, and when paired with any of the sauces suggested in the recipes below, the French hamburger makes a terrific and reasonably priced main dish for an informal gathering.