Veal Burgers with Fresh Tomato Sauce
Switch up your burger menu and try these delicious grilled veal burgers topped with melted mozzarella and fresh tomato basil sauce.
Ground veal has a delicate flavor and tender texture that lends itself well to making an extraordinary burger that pairs best with simple, fresh ingredients.
Our veal burgers feature Italian-style ingredients that include fresh mozzarella and a quick sauce made with diced tomato, sweet onion, balsamic vinegar, and fragrant basil.
Tips for making veal burgers
Here are a few points to keep in mind while making this recipe.
- Start with quality meat: We recommend searching out ground veal with a rosy pink color, indicating that has likely been humanely raised. A little online research should help you find a reliable source in your area, but be sure to read labels and don’t hesitate to ask questions of the butcher if you have any concerns.
- Season first: On its own, ground veal has a subtle, rich flavor, which is why the meat should be well seasoned before you form the patties. Keep it simple, using salt, pepper, and fresh herbs like the basil you’ll find in this recipe.
- The secret to moist burgers: To keep our veal burgers moist and tender, the meat mixture includes small quantities of panko crumbs and heavy cream. These two ingredients don’t add flavor or change the texture of the burgers, but they work together to retain the meat’s natural juices during cooking.
- Don’t overcook: When cooking your burgers, keep a close eye on them as you don’t want them to be overdone. Keep an instant-read thermometer on hand, test them for doneness after 8 minutes (4 minutes per side), and be sure to let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Serving suggestions
To round out the menu, try serving them with Crunchy Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks or Air Fryer Parmesan Fries (from the Hamilton Beach Test Kitchen).
Veal Burgers with Fresh Tomato Sauce
Switch up your burger menu and try these delicious grilled veal burgers topped with melted mozzarella and fresh tomato basil sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground veal
- 1 tablespoon panko crumbs
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons chiffonade of fresh basil
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Olive oil
- 4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese (about 1/4-inch thick each)
- 4 burger buns (brioche if possible)
For the sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup sweet onion, minced
- 1 large tomato, peeled, seeded, and diced
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chiffonade of fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium heat (see notes).
- Place the ground veal, bread crumbs, cream, basil, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl and using your hands, mix well.
- Gently form the mixture into four equal patties and brush both sides of each burger with a bit of olive oil. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the tomato and balsamic vinegar and continue cooking just until the tomato begins to soften and break down, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper, remove from the heat, and set aside while you cook the burgers.
- Oil the grill grates, add the veal burgers and cook for 4 minutes on the first side.
- Flip and cook for 2 minutes additional, then top each burger with a slice of mozzarella cheese and continue grilling 2 minutes longer or until an instant-read thermometer registers 155°F.
- Remove from the grill, cover loosely with foil, and set aside to rest for 5 minutes (the internal temperature should rise about 5°F).
- While the veal burgers rest, lightly toast the rolls and stir the fresh basil into the tomato sauce.
- To serve, place a veal burger on each roll and top with tomato sauce.
Notes
As an alternative to grilling, sear the burgers on both sides in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Transfer to a preheated 400°F oven and cook to an internal temperature of 155°F, about 4 minutes, adding the cheese during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
