Special Sauce

I have made my own special sauce for my burgers for years, and I noticed that some of the better burgers out there have some sort of a proprietary "Secret Sauce" that keeps us all coming back for more. Anyone have any special burger sauce recipes out there? How about a memory of one you enjoyed and are longing for?

Mine looks like Thousand Island Dressing (this tends to be the most common style) but it has diced Mt Olive pickles, minced shallots, Chipotle puree, Ken's Mayo, Ba'Tempte Deli Mustard, Rice wine vinegar & tomato paste. People claim it has Ketchup, but I don't use any.
Tell me what you've got!!!

I've just always assumed that "secret sauce" was really Thousand Island or Russian dressing. I usually order my burgers without secret sauce (I don't like sweet on my meat) but I have to say that your recipe sounds really good! I do like that type of sauce to dip my fries in.

quote:

Originally posted by Coaster Dog

I have made my own special sauce for my burgers for years, and I noticed that some of the better burgers out there have some sort of a proprietary "Secret Sauce" that keeps us all coming back for more. Anyone have any special burger sauce recipes out there? How about a memory of one you enjoyed and are longing for?

Mine looks like Thousand Island Dressing (this tends to be the most common style) but it has diced Mt Olive pickles, minced shallots, Chipotle puree, Ken's Mayo, Ba'Tempte Deli Mustard, Rice wine vinegar & tomato paste. People claim it has Ketchup, but I don't use any.
Tell me what you've got!!!

Oh No... You're not getting away that easy... Your recipe, please. The "Chipolte puree" ingredient has caught my attention.

Wow, I just saw this, and I have to say, this is a topic dear to my heart. I love, love making my sauce for anything from fish to burgers to fries to fried chicken. even roast beef sandwhiches.
one cup mayo. real mayo please.
two tablespoons finely chopped onion.
one tablespoon finely chopped dill pickel.
a dash of salt and pepper.
one tablespoon ketchup.
one tablespoon finely chopped parsley.
I can't think of a food this isn't good on, except the obvious ones like cake or such.

all my home grilled burgers need are A1 and a slice of cheese, ok occasionally a thickNchunky homemade blu cheese dressing. Of course if its pan fried you just HAVE to make browngravy (make enough for the fries) you DID make oven fries didn't you?

I can't help wondering what might be wrong with a hamburger that requires some special sauce.

My husband keeps looking for a hamburger sauce from his childhood called "Big H". Personally, I never had it. He's looked for it off and on for 20 years. Anybody know what he's talking about? I think he imagined it...

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

I can't help wondering what might be wrong with a hamburger that requires some special sauce.

Just something different... Pan fried vs Charcoal vs Propane Grill.. (Then in them open fire pits, mesquite vs hickory vs whatever you have available).. Something to play with the taste buds...

According to "The Simpsons," the recipe for secret sauce is to put a bucket of mayonaise out in the sun.

quote:

Originally posted by HiredGoon

According to "The Simpsons," the recipe for secret sauce is to put a bucket of mayonaise out in the sun.

Mmmm... Sun Dried Mayo...

Salustra -

I remember "Big H" - it was a brilliant imitation of Big Mac sauce that was not on market for long. I heard that the McDonald's folks put the stop to it claiming business violation. This was in late 70's (my estimate). I too wondered if it did exist, but remember seeing a website of "gone forever" foods that listed Big H as having gone to heaven.

Years ago, when I was a senior in high school, I dated a girl who worked at the then-brand-new Shoney's 15 miles away. Her first day waitressing, a customer ordered the Big Boy plate and asked for extra special sauce as he just loved the stuff. When she asked what kind of dressing he wanted on the salad, he said it didn't matter as long as it wasn't 1000 Island--he couldn't stand the stuff. The "secret sauce" came out of the very same gallon jug.

People!

quote:

Originally posted by Salustra

My husband keeps looking for a hamburger sauce from his childhood called "Big H". Personally, I never had it. He's looked for it off and on for 20 years. Anybody know what he's talking about? I think he imagined it...

I, too, recalled "Big H" from the late 70's or early 80's. Thinking I had found it at www.hiresbigh.com, I ordered some online from Utah. While I was reminded by elders that I was thinking of Hellman's Big H, Hires Big H has been a hit in the several households I have introduced to it.

Hires' version is very much like Thousand Island, but with a hint of what I beleive to be horseradish. I plan to verify that when my next order arrives.

HHMMMMM someone dug back in the archives!! My favorite "secret sauce" for burgers is bottled blucheese dressing, sometimes, ok usually, I add extra crumbles and miricle whip (mix it up a couple hours before cooking to "ferment")

Tying the Big Boy thread with this one, Big Boy has a special sauce that resembled Mc Donald's thousand-island-like dressing. They also has two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, onions, pickles on a sesame bun.
The first time I had a Big Boy, I said, "Hey, this tastes like a Big Mac." My manager said, "yeah, but the Big Boy was first." And, while all but one of the managers at that place were wrong about 98% of the time, I was shocked to find out he was correct. The Big Boy was indeed first.

Anyway, I like Pace's picante sauce on my cheeseburger. That's my personal special sauce.

More than 30 yrs ago, in the Detroit suburbs there was a place called the Totem Pole Drive-In, they had a special suace that was kind of like a curried mayonaise ... just awesome.
Now the tradition is carried on by the Irish bar Duggan's who still serve the original Big Chief Burger from the Totem Pole.

My recipe (which I call Dick Sauce, because it tastes the same as the sauce at Dick's Hamburgers in Seattle).

1/4 cup Mayo or Miracle whip
1 TBS French's Mustard
2 TBS Relish (use sweet relish when you use mayo, regular relish when you use Miracle Whip)

This is good for about 4-6 burgers.

Some of you guys should know it, but In-n-Out in So. California has a really good "secret sauce." which is like a Thousand Island variation. You can also order it on the side if ask for "spread." My girlfriend turned me on to this. It makes their burgers worth it every time.

lways remember Jack in the Box. "Do you want Jack Sauce on that?"

Secret sauce means poor quality meat IMHO.

I have looked for years for this sauce. Finally found this one allegedly from a former employee.






1C Hellmans Mayo
1tsp or less Curry Powder
garlic salt to your taste
1/2tsp worcestershire sauce
1 and 1 1/2 tsp Chili Sauce
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4tsp Accent season salt
combine all ingredience and leave in fridge overnight to allow the flavors to marry will not taste the same if you dont

Milo's hamburger sauce (Birmingham, AL) is the best stuff I've ever tasted on a burger, and I've been trying to find the secret for 30 years.  No luck.

Although I do enjoy "special sauce" on my burgers, and will from time to time make my own variation, at home I'm happy with just mustard and ketchup on my own cheeseburgers.
 
I'd like to add, when I do make a "special sauce", sometimes I'll add a very small amount of liquid hickory smoke to my sauce.

 Here's one that I think is the tops...(get it? ) for burgers....
 
    "need-to-know basis" burger sauce......
 
   1/2 cup hellmans mayo
   1/2 cup miracle whip
   1 cup heinz chili sauce
   1/3 cup chopped good dill pickle
   2 tbsp grated onion
   1/2-1 tsp horseradish
   1 tsp L&P worchestershire sauce
   couple dashes favorite hot sauce
   1 tsp each paprika (smoked if possible) and chili powder
   good amount fresh black pepper
   and the kicker.....
   2-3 chopped fine.......anchovie fillets
 
 Sounds wierd but trust me on this one.....let it set together and "marry" overnight. Not fishy at all, just a wonderful zing to any burger!
  

Here is the special sauce I use:
 
Heinz® Tomato Ketchup
 
Done!

Back when I was in high school (late 70's) I worked for a few months at McDonald's. Back then, the cans of "Special Sauce" said Thousand Island Dressing. I think Thousand Island Dressing is yukky.

Homemade Thousand Island is wonderful.  I've become addicted to it just in the last month. 

Maybe not now, but back at its inception, chutney was one of the secret ingredients in Big Mac sauce.

I remember the "3 D" Burger at Howard Johnson's back in the 'Pre-Big Mac' era. The 3D Burger was basically a BIG Mac in HOJO disguise. We got big cans of 3D sauce to use on it. Tasted like 1000 Dressing with some Catsup and Mustard added.  Not Bad on the Burger pattis.

db1105
Secret sauce means poor quality meat IMHO.

Not at all.  There's a guy around here makes awesome burgers.  He uses local beef, ground fresh. 
Plenty of salad-  lettuce, onion, pickle, and tomato.  And of course, special sauce.  His is kinda like Thousand Island...but more tangy.  Mustardy. 
 
I think it all goes great with a nice burger patty.  A classic American hamburger.