Japanese-Style Hamburger with Rice

I have to apologise for the lack of photo for this post, I will explain why. I made these hamburgers or hanbagu (is that how the Japanese called this?) last week based on a recipe from 'The Quick and Easy Japanese Cookbook' by Katsuyo Kobayashi. I bought this book during my transit at Nippon airport and the main reason why I bought this book(beside the fact that the author is an Iron Chef winner) is bcoz of this recipe.

Ok back to why the lack of photos....Hub came home last week announcing that he invited one more colleague home for dinner and they were all very hungry that day....Luckily I made extra portion that day coz I thought I could freeze the seasoned mince for another day.

By the time I finished frying the last batch of patties, the boys were starved and I couldn't possibly have the time to arrange my patties for a good photo shoot....I am sure they will not allow that....Anyway here's the recipe with a bit of modifications....Heh, you know me....

Japanese-Style Hambugers
(modified from The Quick & Easy Japanese Cookbook by Katsuyo Kobayashi)

500grams ground beef
1/2 salt
black pepper to taste
1 onion (modified)
oil for frying onion
1 egg
1/4 milk
1 cup panko
5 tbsp ketchup (modified)
1 tbsp sake (I used mirin)
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (modified)
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sugar (not in recipe)
1 1/2 cup water
1 tbsp butter
1 cup button mushrooms, sliced thinly(not in recipe)
2 carrot, chopped finely (not in recipe)

Method:

1. Season beef with salt and pepper, set aside
2. Chop onion finely and saute in oil until transparent, add in carrots and fry for another 5 mins. Set mixture aside to cool.
3. In a bowl, combine egg, milk and panko. Mix briefly for the panko to soak the liquid
4. Add onion mixture and panko mixture to the beef and mix well
5. Divide the meat mixture into balls (abt golf ball size), flat it a little in the centre
6. Heat up the butter in the saucepan and fry the patties till brown, turn the patties to the other side
7. Add boiling water till it's fill up to half-cover the patties, turn to low heat and cook till the water evaporates
8. To make the sauce, add butter to the same pan after you have finished frying all the patties; saute mushroom, add ketchup,sake, worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and water and bring to a boil. Simmer until slighly thicken and pour sauce over hamburgers.

NOTE: 1. I did not follow the 'cook the patties in water' method as I have too many patties to fry and I simply don't have time wash and dry my saucepan after every batch. So I just flatten the patties more and fry with a saucepan cover to trap the moisture.
2. I added chopped carrots to make it healthier and also sweeter. Oh and mushroom too...
3. I use a small saucepan to make the sauce instead of waiting till all the patties are done.

Verdict: The boys wolfed down all the patties and rice and the only words they say throughout dinner is "Nice, nice". Even T forgot about his dieting that day ; ) I made 8 patties from the above recipe, Hub told me after dinner that he wants 4 patties the next time.....Will definitely make this again and will take a few pictures...