Marinara Pizza Burger
Marinara Pizza Burger
Here is a simple recipe with a distinct Italian flavour. The Marinara Pizza Burger is topped with a very basic garlic, olive oil and tomato sauce. To the original Italian pizza recipe I have taken the liberty of adding mozzarella cheese — you might prefer to leave it out.
This Marinara Pizza Burger uses the Basic Hamburger patty as a base (recommended) but you could use any store-bought burger patty for convenience.
Serves 4
For the Base
- 4 Basic Hamburger patties
For the Topping
- 2 canned tomatoes, peeled and chopped into small cubes, mixed with a generous teaspoon of tomato puree — alternatively use 4 to 5 tablespoons of pizza sauce for convenience
- 1 small dash olive oil
- 1/2 to 1 clove garlic, crushed or finely chopped (depending on how much you like garlic!)
- 2 pinches dried oregano (only 1 pinch if using pizza sauce)
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- Mozzarella cheese, sliced enough to cover 4 patties, or about a handful of grated dry mozzarella
For the Rolls
- 4 fresh rolls, about the same size as the patties
- Butter
Method
Add the olive oil, garlic, oregano and pepper to the tomato mix and stir through.
The patties should preferably be broiled under a grill or cooked on a Weber-style barbecue with the lid on. Grill or broil the patties until half cooked and flip them over.
- Barbecue: immediately spoon the sauce onto the patties, cover liberally with cheese and put the lid on.
- Oven or broiler: wait a minute or two after turning before adding the sauce and cheese.
- Frying pan: pre-warm the sauce before spooning onto the turned patties, add the cheese and cover with a lid.
The burgers are ready when the cheese has melted.
Split the rolls and toast the cut surfaces lightly (under the grill, on the barbecue or in a dry pan) just before the patties are done. Spread a little butter on the toasted surfaces and add the patty.
You could use 4 rolls and top the patty with the other half but I prefer them open-faced — your choice!
Bon Appétit!