Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons caraway seed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seed
  • 1 1/2 pounds 80% lean ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 small onion, peeled
  • Kosher salt and coarse black pepper
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 3 tablespoons pickle relish, preferred brand Wickle’s
  • 1/4 cup ketchup, preferred brand Sir Kensington’s
  • A few dashes Chipotle Tabasco or other hot sauce
  • 1 pound sauerkraut, drained
  • Olive or vegetable oil, for drizzling
  • Dill or garlic dill pickle chips/slices
  • 1/2 pound each deli-sliced Swiss cheese and Provolone cheese
  • Softened butter
  • 8 slices sourdough bread

Yield

Serves: 4

Preparation

 a small stainless steel skillet, toast caraway and cumin seeds until fragrant. Grind in a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle, and reserve.
 
Heat a cast-iron or 2-burner griddle or a large, cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.

 
Place beef in a mixing bowl and add ground caraway and cumin. Douse evenly with Worcestershire and, using a handheld grater, grate onion directly over bowl to catch juices. Season meat generously with Kosher salt and pepper and mix with your hands to combine. Form 4 large, thin patties that are even thinner at the center for even cooking.
 
In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine sour cream, relish, ketchup and hot sauce, to taste. Add sauerkraut and mix well.
 
Drizzle hot griddle or pan with oil and cook patties 4 minutes on each side, remove and wipe griddle or pan clean.  Reduce heat to medium.
 
Butter 1 side of each bread slice lightly and evenly. Build sandwiches with buttered slices facing out: bread, pickles, provolone, patty, sauerkraut and Swiss.
 
Griddle sandwiches until deeply golden and crispy, cut in half on a bias and serve.