During a typical summer vacation for my family, we would visit our family members in Morocco for a few months and get the taste of Moroccan culture that we've missed for so long, whether it be going to weddings, eating Moroccan food, speaking Arabic 24/7, or soccer at local cafés. However, my family decided to switch things up a bit and instead of us going to Morocco, my uncle told us that he was going come to the United States permanently, following his goal of living in the United States and living the American Dream. This drastic move did not take place so smoothly; the culture shock to my uncle was incredible. He had never seen buildings so tall, food so greasy, streets so busy, but most notably he had never seen so many cultures in one place. Of course there was the overall feel of American culture around, but at the same time he could have Chinese food anytime he wanted, he could rent an Indian Bollywood movie, or he could take a Spanish dance class. It wasn't just the American culture that took him by surprise, but the vast variety of other cultures in this land.
This event was significant not only for my uncle, but for myself. Experiencing a new land yourself is one thing, but showing someone around and seeing the awe in their faces in truly amazing. From watching his first football game, to going to the Newport Aquarium, to eating his first burger, my uncle was able to see how big the world really is. This event changed me because I was able to show someone else where I have lived for 17 years and see the amazement that they had, dipping their feet in uncharted waters.
To represent the blend of my uncle's culture with the American culture he experienced, I decided to make my own recipe for a Moroccan burger by using spices and ingredients that are essential for most Moroccan cuisines in a well-known American dish. Now, I can potentially show others the mix of cultures that went through my uncle's head through food. Now if only I could cook...
Recipe for The Moroccan Burger:
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck (80 percent lean) or ground turkey (90 percent lean)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of saffron threads, crumbled
2 cups of diced black olives
4 Slices of Jben (Moroccan style cheese)
1/4 cup of hummus
Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Form each portion loosely into a 3/4-inch-thick burger and make a deep depression in the center with your thumb. Season both sides of each burger with salt, pepper, and saffron.
Heat the olive oil in the pan or griddle over high heat until the oil begins to shimmer. Cook the burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the first side, about 3 minutes for beef and 5 minutes for turkey. Flip over the burgers. Cook beef burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the second side, 4 minutes for medium rare (3 minutes if topping with cheese) or until cooked to desired degree of doneness. Cook turkey burgers until cooked throughout, about 5 minutes on the second side.
Place the burgers on top of a bun, add a slice of jben cheese to each burger, top each with a dollop of hummus and a few olives and you have yourself the most interesting burger you've ever tasted.
This event was significant not only for my uncle, but for myself. Experiencing a new land yourself is one thing, but showing someone around and seeing the awe in their faces in truly amazing. From watching his first football game, to going to the Newport Aquarium, to eating his first burger, my uncle was able to see how big the world really is. This event changed me because I was able to show someone else where I have lived for 17 years and see the amazement that they had, dipping their feet in uncharted waters.
To represent the blend of my uncle's culture with the American culture he experienced, I decided to make my own recipe for a Moroccan burger by using spices and ingredients that are essential for most Moroccan cuisines in a well-known American dish. Now, I can potentially show others the mix of cultures that went through my uncle's head through food. Now if only I could cook...
Recipe for The Moroccan Burger:
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck (80 percent lean) or ground turkey (90 percent lean)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of saffron threads, crumbled
2 cups of diced black olives
4 Slices of Jben (Moroccan style cheese)
1/4 cup of hummus
Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Form each portion loosely into a 3/4-inch-thick burger and make a deep depression in the center with your thumb. Season both sides of each burger with salt, pepper, and saffron.
Heat the olive oil in the pan or griddle over high heat until the oil begins to shimmer. Cook the burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the first side, about 3 minutes for beef and 5 minutes for turkey. Flip over the burgers. Cook beef burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the second side, 4 minutes for medium rare (3 minutes if topping with cheese) or until cooked to desired degree of doneness. Cook turkey burgers until cooked throughout, about 5 minutes on the second side.
Place the burgers on top of a bun, add a slice of jben cheese to each burger, top each with a dollop of hummus and a few olives and you have yourself the most interesting burger you've ever tasted.