MasterChef Week 9 Recap & Graham Elliot's Grahamburger Recipe

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Whitney Miller won the first season of MasterChef and is sharing her insider knowledge with us!

“What makes a good one is not just the final product, it’s the entire process.

Mixing ground pork with the beef will give the burger a lighter mouthfeel.

The pretzel roll makes the whole bite almost too good to be true.”

Season with the salt and pepper.

Gently hand-form the ground beef into 4 big burgers about 1-inch thick.

Don’t pack the meat too tightly.

Refrigerate the patties until you are ready to grill.

Combine the vinegar and 1/2 cup of the oil in a large bowl.

Add the onion, pushing the slices down into the liquid.

Set aside for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours, to pickle.

In a small pot, combine the remaining 1 cup oil and the garlic.

Place over medium-low heat.

Simmer the garlic gently for 20 to 25 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a knife.

Remove the garlic from the oil and strain off any excess oil.

In a food processor or blender, combine the garlic and mayonnaise.

Puree for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the garlic is well-incorporated and the mayonnaise is smooth.

Place the aioli in a small container and refrigerate.

This may be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Brush a grill pan or a gas or charcoal grill with oil to create a nonstick surface.

Remove the onion from the vinegar and pat dry.

By permission of Rodale, Inc.

Available wherever books are sold.

Photograph by Vanessa Stump.

Whitney’s Recap:The critics for this week’s team challenge are the toughest yet…kids!

Why would Christian do this when a seasoned cook would know the result?

The children tried each team’s sliders and sides, voting Christine’s Red team the winning menu.

Bonus: Slim Down Your Cookout

“Whitney, you only have 90 seconds!”

Crawfish, crab, steaks, and more…..has to be a Surf and Turf mystery box challenge.

The contestants only have 45 minutes to prepare their dishes!

Adrien put a twist on classic surf and turf with his short rib and crab salad.

Gordon was impressed by the presentation and flavors in his modern interpretation.

Joe was pleased with her simplistic approach and enjoyed the flavors.

Jennifer redeemed herself from her past unsuccessful dishes in the difficult preparation of risotto with short ribs and crab.

The master of risotto, Gordon, gave her the highest compliment, exclaiming it was perfect.

Jennifer chose Gordon’s favorite.

With only 45 minutes to prepare their dishes, the contestants rush to the pantry.

Suzy chose to prepare a roasted tomato and pepper soup with grilled cheese.

“Delicious,” stated Gordon.

Obviously, these dishes won over Gordon’s heart and palate.

Suzy and Tracy were chosen as the winners.

Shockingly, not one but two people were eliminated - Christine and Derrick.