There are two important tips when preparing Grass-Fed or Pasture-Raised Meats. First, don't overcook the meat! Be sure to take meats off of the grill or out of the oven and allow them to rest for the final cooking time and temperature. We have used the great info on this website and can recommend it:
www.onlygrassfed.com. Second, be sure to add a little extra fat to the meat. Grass-fed meats tend to be much leaner and if you add a little Olive Oil or other fat (Sausage, Bacon Fat, etc.) you will usually come out with a much better result.
Prepare the Cole Slaw a little ahead so the flavors can develop. Trim and chop Cabbage to desired consistency, we tend to chop ours fairly fine so you don't get a big chunk in one bite! For four people we use 6 cups of chopped Cabbage. Finely chop 1/4 of the Vidalia Onion add to Cabbage with salt, pepper, 1 Tablespoon Honey or Sugar. Other seasonings to try: Curry Powder; Celery Seeds; Red Pepper Flakes; Cumin; fresh chopped Herbs. Stir in 1/4 cup Mayonnaise or Plain Yogurt and chill.
Prepare Cheeseburgers:
Finely chop 1/4 of the Vidalia Onion, add to one pound Ground Beef with 1 Tablespoon water and 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil. Season with salt, pepper and your choice of other spices (we like to add Granulated Garlic and Paprika, too!). Mix the ingredients together gently, try not to moosh the meat up too much, this can make the texture tough. Pat into 1/4 pound patties, place on a platter in the fridge until ready to grill or cook in a skillet on the stove.
Slice Red Hill Cheddar Cheese, chill til ready to grill.
Prepare Sweet Potato Fries: these are so easy to do and are just as satisfying as deep-fried fries. Trim, peel and cut Sweet Potatoes into your favorite shapes (long and skinny or round, either way). It's best if they are fairly thin, go for about 1/4" thickness. Place in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Don't put anything on them yet, they will be dry but that's OK! After they are partially cooked remove them from the oven and allow to cool. About 20 minutes before you want to serve toss/drizzle the Sweet Potatoes with just enough Olive Oil to lightly coat, season with salt and pepper. Bake for another 15 minutes at 400 degrees til browned and serve immediately.
Toast the rolls or buns you want to use for the burgers while the oven is still hot.
Grill them Burgers: Starting out with chilled patties will let you get the outside nice and browned while the inside will still be medium doneness. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes per side depending on how well you want them done, flip only once. You can slice the reserved 1/2 Vidalia Onion and grill to serve on the side. After removing burgers from the grill or skillet place the cheese on top and cover with a lid to melt. Serve on toasted buns with the Sweet Potato Fries and Cole Slaw, yum!
