Argentine-Style Burger

While this burger won't come together quite as quickly as a basic one, the few extra touches are well worth the time. Sautéing the onion and garlic before adding them to the meat makes for more integrated flavor, as well as a better consistency in the burger. The chimichurri adds intense flavor, and if there's any left over, it's perfect on grilled vegetables, steak, fish, or chicken. What we have is beyond your basic burger, but it's a keeper, especially for those times when you want something jazzy and new.

• 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion (from 1/2 medium-small onion)
• 2 Tbs. finely chopped garlic (from 6 to 7 medium cloves)
•  1 Tbs. finely chopped jalapeño (from 3/4 medium chile)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1-1/2 lb. ground round (85% lean)
• 1-1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1-1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 5- to 6-inch pita pockets
• Thin red onion slices (optional)
• Lettuce leaves (optional)
• Chimichurri Sauce

In a medium skillet, heat 1 Tbs. of the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeño, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 min. Transfer to a medium bowl, let cool for 10 min., and then add the ground beef, cumin, oregano, cilantro, 1 tsp. salt, and several grinds of pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined. Shape the meat into four burgers, 3/4 inch thick and 4 inches across, working the meat as little as possible. Make a 1/4-inch dent in the center of each burger with the tips of your middle three fingers.

To pan-cook burgers:

Put a large skillet or griddle, preferably cast iron, over high heat and let it get very hot, about 2 min. (The pan is hot enough when a drop of water evaporates instantly.) Add the remaining 1 Tbs. oil and tilt the pan to spread it evenly. Arrange the burgers so there’s as much space as possible between them, reduce the heat to medium high, and cook, uncovered, for 5 min. Turn and cook until the burger feels springy but not mushy when poked, about 3 min. for medium rare (or longer if you’re concerned about undercooked meat).

To grill burgers:

Charcoal: Prepare a medium-hot fire. Cook the burgers, uncovered, on one side for 5 minutes. Turn and cook until the burgers feel springy but not mushy when poked, another 4 to 5 minutes for medium rare.

Gas: Heat the grill to high. When the interior temperature is about 500°F, cook the burgers for 3 minutes with the lid closed. Turn, close the lid, and cook until the burgers feel springy but not mushy when poked, another 3 to 4 minutes for medium rare.

To serve:

Cut the top inch or so off the pitas to open up the pockets wide enough to fit the burgers. Serve the burgers in the pita with red onion and lettuce, if using, and some of the chimichurri sauce.

Chimichurri Sauce

This sauce—my version of the classic Argentine condiment—can be made up to two days in advance and refrigerated in a well-sealed container.

• 1 cup packed flat-leaf parsley leaves (from 1 large bunch)
• 1 cup packed fresh mint leaves (from 1 large bunch)
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 1-1/2 limes)
• 2 Tbs. coarsely chopped garlic (from 4 to 5 medium cloves)
• 1 tsp. coarsely chopped jalapeño (from 1/4 medium chile)
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. kosher salt; more to taste

Put the parsley, mint, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, jalapeño, cumin, and salt in a food processor. Process, stopping to scrape the bowl as often as needed, until puréed into a thick sauce. Add more salt to taste if needed and refrigerate until ready to use.

Argentine-Style Burger

While this burger won't come together quite as quickly as a basic one, the few extra touches are well worth the time. Sautéing the onion and garlic before adding them to the meat makes for more integrated flavor, as well as a better consistency in the burger. The chimichurri adds intense flavor, and if there's any left over, it's perfect on grilled vegetables, steak, fish, or chicken. What we have is beyond your basic burger, but it's a keeper, especially for those times when you want something jazzy and new.

• 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion (from 1/2 medium-small onion)
• 2 Tbs. finely chopped garlic (from 6 to 7 medium cloves)
•  1 Tbs. finely chopped jalapeño (from 3/4 medium chile)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1-1/2 lb. ground round (85% lean)
• 1-1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1-1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 5- to 6-inch pita pockets
• Thin red onion slices (optional)
• Lettuce leaves (optional)
• Chimichurri Sauce

In a medium skillet, heat 1 Tbs. of the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeño, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 min. Transfer to a medium bowl, let cool for 10 min., and then add the ground beef, cumin, oregano, cilantro, 1 tsp. salt, and several grinds of pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined. Shape the meat into four burgers, 3/4 inch thick and 4 inches across, working the meat as little as possible. Make a 1/4-inch dent in the center of each burger with the tips of your middle three fingers.

To pan-cook burgers:

Put a large skillet or griddle, preferably cast iron, over high heat and let it get very hot, about 2 min. (The pan is hot enough when a drop of water evaporates instantly.) Add the remaining 1 Tbs. oil and tilt the pan to spread it evenly. Arrange the burgers so there’s as much space as possible between them, reduce the heat to medium high, and cook, uncovered, for 5 min. Turn and cook until the burger feels springy but not mushy when poked, about 3 min. for medium rare (or longer if you’re concerned about undercooked meat).

To grill burgers:

Charcoal: Prepare a medium-hot fire. Cook the burgers, uncovered, on one side for 5 minutes. Turn and cook until the burgers feel springy but not mushy when poked, another 4 to 5 minutes for medium rare.

Gas: Heat the grill to high. When the interior temperature is about 500°F, cook the burgers for 3 minutes with the lid closed. Turn, close the lid, and cook until the burgers feel springy but not mushy when poked, another 3 to 4 minutes for medium rare.

To serve:

Cut the top inch or so off the pitas to open up the pockets wide enough to fit the burgers. Serve the burgers in the pita with red onion and lettuce, if using, and some of the chimichurri sauce.

Black-Pepper-Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Chimichurri Sauce

A tangy condiment made with fresh herbs and garlic, chimichurri sauce isa traditional accompaniment to grilled meats in Argentina and pairs
well with peppery steak. Before cooking the steaks, you can use the
weight of your skillet to crush the whole peppercorns for the coating.

For the chimichurri sauce

• 1-1/2 oz. mixed fresh cilantro and flat-leaf parsley leaves (1 cup packed)
• 1 Tbs. fresh oregano or 1 tsp. dried
• 1 Tbs. chopped garlic
  
  
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbs. red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp. fresh lime juice; more to taste
• 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt

For the steaks

• 2 Tbs. black peppercorns, coarsely crushed
• Kosher or coarse salt
• 4 6- to 7-oz. beef tenderloin steaks, about 1-1/2 inches thick
• 1 Tbs. olive oil
  
  

Make the sauce

Combine the cilantro, parsley, oregano, and garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Scrape the mixture into a bowl and stir in the olive oil, vinegar, lime juice, red pepper flakes, and 1/2 tsp. salt.

Cook the steak

In a flat dish or shallow bowl, combine the crushed peppercorns with 2 tsp. salt. Firmly press both sides of the steaks into the mixture so they’re well coated. Set aside to come to room temperature, at least 20 minutes and up to 45 minutes.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F.

Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, about 2 minutes. Add the oil, swirling the pan to coat the bottom; then add the steaks and cook, undisturbed, until nicely browned on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook, undisturbed, until nicely browned on the other side, about 4 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook until an instant-read thermometer registers 120° to 125°F for rare, 130° to 135°F for medium rare, or 140° to 145°F for medium, 2 to 7 minutes. Let the steaks rest on a plate, loosely covered with foil, for 5 minutes. Serve the steaks topped with the chimichurri sauce.

Argentine Spice-Rubbed Flank Steak with Salsa Criolla

Chimichurri is the star salsa of the Argentine grill, but the lesser known salsa criolla was my favorite when I visited that country. Full of onions, red peppers, and herbs, the mixture is a light but intensely flavorful condiment for grilled steak.

• 3 cloves garlic, minced and mashed to a paste with a pinch of salt
• 2 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme
• 1 Tbs. freshly ground black pepper
• 1 Tbs. chili powder
• 2 tsp. brown sugar
• 1-1/2 Tbs. plus 2 tsp. kosher salt
• 4-1/2 lb. fl ank steak (about 3 medium steaks), trimmed of excess fat
• 1 large ripe tomato, cored, seeded, and fi nely diced (about 1-1/4 cup)
• 1 medium yellow onion, minced (about 1-1/3 cups)
• 1/2 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and minced (about 1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup white-wine vinegar

In a small bowl, mix about two-thirds of the garlic paste with 1 Tbs. of the thyme, 2 tsp. of the black pepper, the chili powder, brown sugar, and 1-1/2 Tbs. of the salt. Arrange the steaks on a rimmed baking sheet and pat the spice rub all over them. Cover and let sit for at least 4 hours and up to 1 day in the refrigerator.

In a 1-qt. sealable container, combine the tomato, onion, red pepper, oil, and vinegar with 1/4 cup water, and the remaining garlic paste, 1 Tbs. thyme, 2 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. black pepper. Shake well. Refrigerate for up to 1 day before serving.

Heat a gas grill to medium high or prepare a hot charcoal fire. Grill the steak (covered on a gas grill) until it has good grill marks on the fi rst side, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip the steak; if using a gas grill, reduce the heat to medium  and cover the grill. Continue to cook until done to your liking (make a slit in the steak to take a peek), 4 to 5 minutes more for medium rare; 6 to 7 minutes more for medium.

Let the steak rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes and then slice thinly across the grain. Stir or shake the salsa criolla and serve with the steak.

Argentine-Style Burger

While this burger won't come together quite as quickly as a basic one, the few extra touches are well worth the time. Sautéing the onion and garlic before adding them to the meat makes for more integrated flavor, as well as a better consistency in the burger. The chimichurri adds intense flavor, and if there's any left over, it's perfect on grilled vegetables, steak, fish, or chicken. What we have is beyond your basic burger, but it's a keeper, especially for those times when you want something jazzy and new.

• 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion (from 1/2 medium-small onion)
• 2 Tbs. finely chopped garlic (from 6 to 7 medium cloves)
•  1 Tbs. finely chopped jalapeño (from 3/4 medium chile)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1-1/2 lb. ground round (85% lean)
• 1-1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1-1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 5- to 6-inch pita pockets
• Thin red onion slices (optional)
• Lettuce leaves (optional)
• Chimichurri Sauce

In a medium skillet, heat 1 Tbs. of the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeño, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 min. Transfer to a medium bowl, let cool for 10 min., and then add the ground beef, cumin, oregano, cilantro, 1 tsp. salt, and several grinds of pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined. Shape the meat into four burgers, 3/4 inch thick and 4 inches across, working the meat as little as possible. Make a 1/4-inch dent in the center of each burger with the tips of your middle three fingers.

To pan-cook burgers:

Put a large skillet or griddle, preferably cast iron, over high heat and let it get very hot, about 2 min. (The pan is hot enough when a drop of water evaporates instantly.) Add the remaining 1 Tbs. oil and tilt the pan to spread it evenly. Arrange the burgers so there’s as much space as possible between them, reduce the heat to medium high, and cook, uncovered, for 5 min. Turn and cook until the burger feels springy but not mushy when poked, about 3 min. for medium rare (or longer if you’re concerned about undercooked meat).

To grill burgers:

Charcoal: Prepare a medium-hot fire. Cook the burgers, uncovered, on one side for 5 minutes. Turn and cook until the burgers feel springy but not mushy when poked, another 4 to 5 minutes for medium rare.

Gas: Heat the grill to high. When the interior temperature is about 500°F, cook the burgers for 3 minutes with the lid closed. Turn, close the lid, and cook until the burgers feel springy but not mushy when poked, another 3 to 4 minutes for medium rare.

To serve:

Cut the top inch or so off the pitas to open up the pockets wide enough to fit the burgers. Serve the burgers in the pita with red onion and lettuce, if using, and some of the chimichurri sauce.