My Most Coveted Secret: Herb-Garlic Butter Hamburgers on a Grill

Ingredients

Herb-Garlic Butter

• 3 tablespoons finely chopped mixed fresh herbs (including parsley,basil,oregano,chives, or tarragon leaves)
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 cup salted butter, softened

Burgers

• 1 1/2 lbs ground sirloin or ground round or ground chuck
• coarse salt
• black pepper
• 6 deli hamburger buns (such as kaiser)
• melted butter

Directions

1. 1

   Place all the herbs, garlic, pepper, and butter in a small mixing bowl and beat with a wooden spoon until slightly fluffy.

2. 2

   (you can do the mixing with a or food processor) Place a 12" square piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper on your work surface and mound the flavored butter in the center.

3. 3

   Roll herb butter into cylinder shape within plastic, twisting the ends to compress the butter.

4. 4

   Chill the butter in the refrigerator or freeze until firm.

5. 5

   Butter will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.

6. 6

   Burger Preparation: Make hamburger patties as usual, but for each one place your thumb in the middle and press an indentation almost through (but not quite) to the other side of the meat.

7. 7

   Unwrap formed butter and cut crosswise into 1/4-1/2" discs. (You will be using approximately 4 tablespoons Herb-Garlic Butter per 1 1/2 pound of ground meat).

8. 8

   Form hamburger patty fully around one butter disc, pressing gently to seal the disc into the dead center of the meat.

9. 9

   (not too much pressing! It will make your burgers dense and tough) Place burgers on hot grill (preheated to high if using a gas grill).

10. 10

    Grill burgers until cooked to doneness, (about 5 to 7 minutes per side for medium-done).

11. 11

    Place burgers on a serving plate, add cheese, if desired, but do not serve for about 5 minutes, to allow flavors to fully meld.

12. 12

    Brush buns with melted butter and toast on the grill for a few seconds.

13. 13

    Serve with any toppings of your choice.