Oklahoma-Style S'mack Burgers with Ranch-Flavored Tater Tots

[nverland]

Oklahoma-Style S'mack Burgers with Ranch-Flavored Tater Tots
Total: 30 min Active: 30 min Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Sauce:
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons relish
About 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Burgers:
1 large or 2 medium onions, Vidalia when in season or yellow
1 1/2 pounds ground beef, 80/20
Kosher salt and coarse black pepper
About 1 tablespoon canola, peanut or other neutral oil
8 slices American cheese
4 large soft rolls
Sliced dill/gherkin pickles
Chopped iceberg lettuce

Ranch Flavored Tater Tots:

About 1/2 cup powdered buttermilk (see Cook's Note)
1 tablespoon (scant palm full) dried chives
1 tablespoon dried dill
1 tablespoon granulated garlic
1 tablespoon granulated onion
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 large bag extra-crispy tater tots, Ore-Ida preferred brand


Directions

For the sauce: Combine sauce ingredients in small bowl.
For the burgers: Heat a large cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat.
Peel onions and use a mandolin or large slicing blade of a box grater to shave the onions as thin as possible.
Place beef in a bowl, season with salt and pepper and score to separate into 4 portions. Roll beef into balls.
Drizzle oil in pan or over balls and place the meat into pan with 3 inches separating each portion. Top each ball with 1/4 of the onions and press meat into flat patties, bonding onions into meat. Cook beef 3 to 4 minutes, flip, cook and press 2 minutes. Add cheese, 2 slices per burger, and cook 2 minutes more, 7 to 8 minutes total between both sides. Put on patty bun bottoms.
Serve with sauce, pickles, lettuce and patty bun tops with Ranch Flavored Tater Tots alongside.

Ranch Flavored Tater Tots:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Whisk up spices in a bowl. Store in the refrigerator in airtight plastic container.
Bake tots to very crisp, 25 minutes. Top with ranch seasoning to your taste. Makes 3/4 cup seasoning and 6 portions of tots.

Cook’s Note

Store powdered buttermilk (available on baking aisle) in fridge after opening. This same homemade ranch seasoning blend can be used on hot popcorn and of course mixed into a dip with sour cream, or a dressing with sour cream, a splash of buttermilk or cream and lemon juice.