Shake Shack at Home (again)
This is my second attempt making Shake Shack burgers at home. Fortunately for everyone, this time I was able to source the proper ingredients and not forget to add the cheese after drinking a bit too much Rosé. Virtual happy hours, am I right?
I used the same recipes and methods from the first time, though I felt more confident and ready to smash that patty into crispy-edged-submission.
Shack Sauce from Serious Eats | Smash burger guidance from Bon Appetit | Carrot Fries on the side
Bentley’s Way
The Bun - Using Martin’s potato rolls really does make a big difference. Having made this with a classic bun, I can say this with even more conviction. I also toasted the buns with mayo and not butter. It’s honestly just easier because I don’t have melted or softened butter ready, so it’s one less thing to prepare. Also, we have to turn our AC off to run the microwave so it’s not worth it. Whatever you do, buns should be toasted though.
The Beef - I used 20% fat ground chuck. The Serious Eats recipe has a delicious-sounding process for combining types of beef like Shake Shack, but I don’t have time for that. We also prefer single-stack burgers. I think the ratio is more balanced - I would rather eat two of these than one burger with two patties. Please don’t forget to liberally salt both sides of the patty in the pan.
The Sauce - The full batch of Shack Sauce will make enough for four burgers, so feel free to half if you’re doing two. Alternatively, it’s a great dipping sauce for Fried Green Tomatoes if you want to make and use the full batch that way.
The Cheese - My lovely friend gave me this guidance and she is RIGHT. Use deli American cheese and not Kraft singles for this. It has a less distinct taste. Also, I put two slices of cheese on each burger - shh, don’t tell.
The Lettuce - Shake Shack technically uses romaine lettuce, but I had iceberg leftover so used this instead. It was great - whatever lettuce you love will do.
Why yes, those are TV trays. I told you our apartment is small! I look forward to having room for a real table one day.
