The Fried Onion Burger is an iconic American specialty originating in El Reno, Oklahoma, during the 1920s. Born as a Depression Era hamburger, the dish was a resourceful way to stretch expensive beef by smashing a large handful of thinly shredded white onions directly into the meat on a hot griddle. This Oklahoma style onion burger is characterized by the onions caramelizing into the beef, creating a savory, charred crust and a distinctively sweet flavor profile.
In 1926, Henry Wesly Davis opened a Route 66 hamburger stand, the Hamburger Inn, in El Reno, Oklahoma. He had the idea from White Castle hamburgers to added a handful of thin sliced white onions to a small hamburger patty and created the Fried Onion Burger. The Hamburger Inn is closed, but El Reno celebrates the El Reno Fried Onion Burger Day Festival on the first Saturday each May. Ross Davis, Henry Davis's son, insist there should not be butter, just pickle relish and mustard. - AsNotedIn
While the meat was cooking on the grill, Al pressed the onions into it with a spatula and grilled a split bun. He buttered and added pickled relish to the bottom bun before assembling the burger.John Steinbeck on how Al made the burger at Al and Susy's Place in El Reno, 1937
| Particulars for : | |
|---|---|
| Food Culture | American Food |
| Food Type | Beef |
| Product Kind | Food |
| Food Type | Meat Burger |
| Food Form | Victual |
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