The Australian “Hamburger-with-the-Lot”

And while some of those ingredients may sound odd, this mind-blowingly tasty flavour combination is so popular here in Australia that both Hungry Jacks (Burger King) and McDonalds have an Aussie-hamburger-with-the-lot inspired version on their menu (in fact the McDonalds McOz is reportedly about to be reinstated due to massive demand).

But you absolutely shouldn’t try one of these fast food outlet offerings and think you have experienced a hamburger-with-the-lot.  You need to seek out the genuine article or recreate it in your own kitchen.

While you will usually be hard-pressed to find a hamburger at a city "servo" (service station or gas station) the major highway truckstops often have a roadhouse with basic Aussie take-away fare.  So if you are on the road, consider giving McDonalds, KFC or Hungry Jacks a miss and heading into the servo for a hamburger-with-the-lot.

Visit an Aussie pub for a counter meal and you will usually find the classic hamburger-with-the-lot on the menu.  You're looking for an ordinary, run of the mill kind of establishment - the kind with little fare more exotic than the standard chicken parmigiana, schnitzel or surf and turf.  More gentrified pubs may also have a hamburger-with-the-lot on the menu you may be less likely to find the genuine article.

Failing the above options, you will also find a hamburger-with-the-lot on the menu of many Australian bars and cafes.  But beware that in the classier establishments they are more likely to mess with the original formula and offer you something more gourmet.  A little bit of carmelised onion here, a little rocket there - sure it tastes good but if it's the real thing you are after, this isn't it.  And even if they get the ingredients right they may offer you cutlery or worse, present you with a hamburger in two parts.  It should never be eaten this way.  Politely decline and follow my instructions below - no self-respecting Aussie could think the worse of you!

Each ingredient contributes something special to the mix but the beetroot is perhaps most critical.  Don't even think about leaving it out - without beetroot it just isn't an Australian hamburger!

Below is a guide to choosing and preparing the patty, bread, salad and fried ingredients.  Choose the right ingredients and the only real trick is timing so that everything is ready at once.  Then you can spread everything out on the table so everyone can assemble their own hamburger-with-the-lot.

Meat patty

Use a simple meat patty (beef or kangaroo, as pictured) bought ready-made, or made at home.

I usually mix together mince (ground kangaroo), diced onion, grated carrot, a little oat bran, egg, salt and pepper and perhaps a little garlic and Worcestershire sauce. Shape them into patties, refrigerate for an hour then dip them in flour prior to cooking.

Cook your patties in a little oil on a hot barbeque or frypan, turning once only.