Ina Garten’s burger pick

Food Network is pushing Ina Garten’s smashed hamburgers with caramelized onions again as “Be My Guest with Ina Garten” returns with new episodes this spring. (foodnetwork.com) Food Network’s show page says the latest run of “Be My Guest with Ina Garten” began April 11, and the network’s current schedule lists the program at 12 p.m. Eastern on Tuesdays. (foodnetwork.com) The burger recipe Food Network is spotlighting is Garten’s “Smashed Hamburgers with Caramelized Onions,” a four-serving dish that takes 55 minutes total, including 15 minutes of freezing time. (foodnetwork.com) The method is specific: Garten seasons 1 1/4 pounds of 20% fat ground beef with dry mustard, salt and pepper, shapes four thick patties, freezes them for exactly 15 minutes, then presses them in a hot cast-iron skillet. (foodnetwork.com) Food Network’s recipe video says the short freeze is what helps the burgers turn crisp on the outside while staying rare inside. The finished burgers are topped with caramelized red onions and Gruyère cheese and served on potato rolls. (foodnetwork.com) The dish is not new to Garten’s catalog. Food Network credits the recipe to her 2020 cookbook “Modern Comfort Food,” and the network links it to both “Barefoot Contessa: Modern Comfort Food” and “Be My Guest with Ina Garten.” (foodnetwork.com) Food Network has also used the same burger in episode promotion before. Its “Be My Guest” page highlights a Season 7 segment with fashion designer Daniel Roseberry built around champagne and smashburgers. (foodnetwork.com) On Garten’s own site, the recipe appears with the same core ingredients and technique: red onions cooked with sugar and red wine vinegar, four beef patties, Gruyère and potato rolls. (barefootcontessa.com) The network’s latest push fits a familiar Food Network playbook: pair a recognizable host, a recipe clip and a currently airing show to pull viewers from social feeds to recipes and episodes. Garten’s burger, with its short ingredient list and six-minute demo video, is built for that format. (foodnetwork.com)