5 ways with… burgers

Summer and the barbecue season may be over but the classic burger is an all-year-round staple and customers will be queuing for these tasty twists

1. Simply the best

Top your beef patty with Gruyère and grill. When the cheese is just melting, layer up with sliced beef tomato, onion rings and crisp lettuce. Spread the cut side of the top bun with a mustard and mayonnaise mix and hey presto, ready to serve.

2. Taste of foreign climes

Spike hummus with a little cumin, paprika and a dash of olive oil. Whip up tzatziki (coarsely grate and squeeze half a cucumber and mix well with 170g Greek yogurt, a crushed small clove of garlic and a handful of chopped fresh mint leaves). Top a beef, chicken or lamb burger with a slice of grilled aubergine, the hummus and tzatziki.

3. Ditch the bun

We’re not going down the ‘naked’ burger route but instead of a bread roll, pop your burgers in tacos and fill with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and red onion, a home-made burger sauce and your choice of grated cheese.

4. In it goes

Forget putting the cheese and bacon on top of the burger, put them inside instead. Simply add chopped lean streaky bacon and crumbled stilton to the burger mix. It helps keep the burgers super-juicy too. Then just sandwich in a bun with mayo, lettuce, sliced tomato, gherkins and mustard.

5. Spice it up

Add kimchi paste to your burger mix for a spicy punch and an on-trend Asian twist. Serve simply with lettuce, tomato, onion and home-made slaw.