French burgers with the easiest French fries. A method for French fries that starts in cold oil, and only requires one fry!
I’ve made two grave mistakes in the kitchen lately, and I just can’t help but think another one is right around the corner. Everything happens in threes, right?
My first mistake was to make that healthy alfredo sauce recipe that uses cauliflower instead of cream. The recipe has been floating around the internet lately. Can you say ‘yuck with a side of yuck sprinkled with yuck?!’ If I wanted something with the texture of gritty hummus on my pasta, I’d stir sand into hummus instead.
I’m still mourning the beautiful head of golden cauliflower from the farmer’s market that was wasted. Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables (after artichokes), but even this sauce was inedible.
My second kitchen mistake involved cheese. I didn’t know that one could make a bad choice in the cheese aisle. I mean, besides Limburger, right? The other day, I bought reduced fat Brie. What was I thinking? It was a domestic Brie, too. I think I finally figured out what it tastes like…rubber bands. The texture isn’t too different either. I figured someone who eats enough goat cheese for a family of four each week (guilty, party of one) should take it easy on the cheese. Never again. I’d rather have two bites of the good stuff---the triple crème stuff---than a whole wedge of light Brie.
Easiest French Fries:
These chicken burgers (when topped with regular full-fat Brie) are definitely not a mistake. They're flavored with lemon zest, tarragon, and Cornichons (tiny, herby French pickles). The melted Brie on top is like walking into a bakery before closing and being the recipient of all the unsold baked goods for the day. (Perfect is the word I was going for there).
If you're not a pickle lover, you can leave out the Cornichons--they're still delicious. I piled all these delicious French flavors on a baguette and declared it the Frenchiest burger in the world.
All that was missing was French fries for two and two cold beers.
So, this French fry recipe is life-changing. The recipe comes from my friends at America's Test Kitchen in their new book The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook. They call it 'Easier French Fries' because it eliminates the need to double fry and the need for a thermometer.
The recipe is a bit unusual, but I get perfect fries every time.
I've probably made this French fry recipe 10 times or so. You place fresh-cut Yukon gold potatoes in cold oil, and then bring it up to a boil. After the fries have been cooking at a rolling boil for 5 minutes, stir, and continue frying for another 20-25 minutes, stirring twice, until golden brown. That's it.
I like to think of myself as the queen of fried foods (see my Graham Cracker Fried Chicken to verify my aristocracy).
So when I find an easier method for frying, I'm all over it. I whipped up a quick mayo-tarragon dipping sauce and happily devoured the French fries. Yes, I'm one of those people that dips their French fries in mayo, and I'm terribly sorry for it. You can use ketchup if you like (more mayo for me!)
If you're up for making your own burger buns, my homemade brioche buns are so good here! So soft and fluffy!
French Chicken Burgers Easy French Fries
Yummy chicken burgers served with homemade fries.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh chopped tarragon
- zest from ½ a lemon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Cornichon pickles, finely diced
- ¼ + ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¾ pound lean ground chicken
- 2 ounces of Brie, sliced
- half a baguette, sliced in half
- 2 large leaves of lettuce
- mayonnaise for bun
- cherry tomatoes, for garnish
- extra Cornichon pickles, for garnish
- 1 ½ pounds Yukon gold potatoes (do not substitute another kind of potato!)
- 3 cups peanut or vegetable oil (do not substitute another kind of oil!)
- kosher salt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the tarragon, lemon zest, olive oil, pickles, salt and black pepper. Mix well. Add the ground chicken, and mix until combined, but do not over-mix.
- Divide the mixture into 2 round patties, and refrigerate while the grill heats.
- Oil a grill or grill pan over medium heat. Grease the grates. When you can hold you hand 4" above the grates for only a few seconds before it gets too hot, the grill is ready.
- Place the burgers on the grill and do not touch them for at least 5 minutes. Close the grill (or loosely drape with foil if you're using a grill pan indoors).
- Flip the burgers, and then divide the sliced Brie on top of each burger. Leave the grill open and continue cooking until the burgers register at least 165°F, about 5 minutes.
- Serve the burgers on the sliced baguette with lettuce, mayo, cherry tomatoes, and extra Cornichons.
- Prep the potatoes by squaring off the sides to make them perfect rectangles (no need to peel them). Then, slice each potato into ¼" planks. Stack the planks, and then slice into ¼" batons that resemble the typical French fry shape.
- Set a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet lined with paper towels.
- In a large saucepan, combine the potatoes and oil. Turn the heat to high, and bring the oil up to a boil. Once at a rolling boil, boil for 5 minutes.
- Next, gently stir the potatoes to ensure they're not sticking to the bottom of the pan. Continue to fry another 12-14 minutes, until the exteriors are starting to firm.
- Gently stir again, and then fry another 5-10 minutes, until golden brown and crisp. Remove from the oil and place on the wire rack. Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately. Do not make ahead of time.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1431Total Fat: 67gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 45gCholesterol: 213mgSodium: 1878mgCarbohydrates: 141gFiber: 15gSugar: 15gProtein: 76g
Becki @ bites 'n brews says
Artichokes! I'm completely obsessed even though the first one I ever made tried to kill me. Sorry, I'm fixated on artichokes, but the burgers look awesome too!
Lindsey @ American Heritage COoking says
I've been curious about the cauliflower alfredo sauce, so, thank you, for taste testing that for me! I am so not surprised that low fat brie doesn't stack up! This burger, however, totally stacks up! It looks amazing and totally French! I saw the Sweetwater beer in one of your photos and thought for a happy moment you might live in Atlanta, but I see you live in the STL instead, which is where I grew up (mostly)! I hope you and your Hubs are enjoying it!
SAm says
I just loved this post, thank you. Cheese is my nemesis so I generally avoid or indulge. S xx
Joanne says
I've made the reduced fat brie mistake before. It was tragic. I still can barely even speak of it.
Also, that cauliflower sauce of which you speak. Blech. Give me alfredo or give me death!
I would like to be buried in those french fries. So good.
Irene says
these look amaze-balls! definitely going in my dinner list. thanks for sharing your awesome fry technique! frying things has always been intimidating for me, but this looks manageable!
Annie @Maebells says
Totally agree about the cauliflower sauce, didn't work for me either :( But these burgers look great!
Hisham Assaad says
Hello. Love the post. And I have to agree on the light stuff. Not a fan.
I'd rather (try to) eat moderately and enjoy it than have a rubber band of a cheese.
About the fries. Wouldn't they absorb more oil when in the cold oil? That happens mostly when we dump the fries in not hot enough oil.
Christina Lane says
Great question, Hisham! America's Test Kitchen addressed this issue. If you measure the oil after frying, you'll find that you'll have nearly all of the 3 cups you started out with. Amazing! :)
Happy baking~
Christina
Courtney @ Neighborfood says
These sandwiches. Holy cow. I am not a pickle lover, but you can bet I'm going to find myself some full fat, rich creamy brie and make the rest of this sandwich. And the fries? I'm so intrigued. I've never made actual french fries because the process seemed way too daunting. You may have just made this WAY too easy for me.
Phillip || SouthernFATTY.comm says
I’ve never heard of making fries this way. As a frying addict, I’ll def have to try it out!
I also just returned from France, and these burgers look better than most everything I had while I was there heh - Yum!
Ali Grace says
What?! How in the world have I lived twenty-seven years without knowing about this french fry recipe?? Trying it ASAP. Holding you responsible for my jeans not fitting. ;)