I once attended a very chichi event where a renowned hatted chef was cooking. His food was exquisitely prepared and yet the woman sitting next to me said “This is disgusting. I hate how he uses duck fat, it just makes me nauseous”. My jaw dropped. Was she really a food and travel writer? She then spent the next two hours giving the hairy eyeball to the waiters that served her food, pushing away her barely touched plate and sniffing in disgust. She then turned to me and said “I don’t mean to offend you” (which is always a precursor for an offensive comment) “But how does someone like you, get to be invited to an event like this?” looking me up and down as if I were a museum specimen (foodus bloggerus I suppose).
I laughed.
Let me tell you this dish isn’t for her.
This dish is for people who can have fun with food. It is not for the embittered. It is not for the haughty. It is not for those on a diet. It is not for an adult version of an annoyingly fussy child that turns up their nose at everything that is served to them. It is however for the slightly crazy. Ahem, guilty as charged.
I first read about this on the gorgeous Caterina’s site called Good Food Gourmet. She mentioned that this soup actually does taste like cheeseburger in a soup form and suitably intrigued I knew that I had to try it. It originally came from a diner called Grover’s Bar & Grill and she first saw it on Guy Fieri’s show “Diners, Drive ins and Dives” where he traverses America looking for interesting eats. Americans do burgers better than anyone and I figured that if the recipe came from there it had to be a keeper and it was simple to make with the whole thing cooked and ready to serve in less than half an hour.
I took a sip. By George, it did taste like a cheeseburger! It had the crunchy lettuce, tomato, cheese and the cheeseburger patty with pickles and onions-it was just sans the sesame seed bun. I realise that I might be verging into bacon jam territory here but if you love cheeseburgers, then this recipe is for you (try it with an open mind 
).
So tell me Dear Reader, where is the best burger you’ve ever had?
Cheeseburger Soup
Adapted from Good Food Gourmet
Serves 4 as a main
- 1 medium onion
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 500g/1 pound good quality minced beef
- Salt and pepper
- 4 tablespoons hamburger relish (I used the Beerenberg one)
- 4 tomatoes
- 1 cup finely shredded iceberg lettuce
For the soup
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk, warm
- 1 cup cream, warm
- 2 cups good quality beef stock, warm or hot
- 3 cups cheese or cheese sauce (they use Velveeta but we don’t get that here) reserving some cheese to top the soup.
1. Heat up a frypan with the oil. Saute the onion for a few minutes and then add the mince. Brown the mince and cook it through. Season with salt and pepper and add the hamburger relish. Set aside.
2. Meanwhile make the soup (and by all means start this while the onion and beef is frying as that only requires the occasional amount of stirring). Start with a roux. In a medium sized pot add the butter and melt, then add the flour and cook on a low heat for 3-4 minutes. Gradually add milk and stir constantly in between additions so that you get a smooth mixture. Add the cream and stir and then add the stock. Lastly add the cheese reserving a little to sprinkle on top.
3. Ladle the soup into a bowl and top with lettuce, then beef mixture and then tomatoes and finish with a little sprinkling of cheese. Serve with fries, just because
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101 Comments | Add your own
Hey that is just so cool
! I love the idea of this soup.
*kisses* HH
That is an awesome idea! Your soup is terrific and must taste really great.
Cheers,
Rosa
How fun! It might be a bit weird to eat a liquid cheeseburger, but I am intrigued…
I love cheeseburgers in all forms.
oh my – a burger soup!!! How unique and creative!
This is a first time seeing lettuce in a cheeseburger soup! Love that playfulness. There are a few good burgers in Los Angeles, and one of the best actually comes from a chain called The Habit. If they made a soup, it’d be party time.
Cheeseburger soup?? Umm, interesting!
So Lorraine what was your reply to the old dinosaur? I would love to know.
Very cute recipe, I love cheeseburgers but I am not sure how I would cope with it in soup form.
Pauls hamburgers. – the lot w bacon yum
My favourite burger is from Curly’s (north curl curl), the harissa chicken burger, mmmmm yum. They changed the menu, not sure it still exists, but their other burgers and subs are great too.
I’ve had burgers on my mind for awhile now and we were talking about this just recently “the best burger ever”. I’m not sure there was a decision on it though…
I’ve had cheeseburger salad but not a soup before!
My roommate was just talking about some cheeseburger soup she’d had once that was so good. This looks amazing!
WOW! The colour of the “soup” is just like that super yellow American cheese you get at Maccas. Must be so good but so bad for you lol
I do love your description of the hideous creature that sat beside you. Aren’t people like that a waste of food?
Admirable retraint you showed too!
I love Moo burgers and Burger Fuel’s Stilton beef burger ( both in Newtown) Both places have awesome burgers
Hmmmm I like them but cheeseburgers don’t have lettuce……Think I’ll leave that bit out if I try this recipe. I love that site where they turn actual fast food into ‘gourmet’ meals. Lots of fun, yup crazy fun.
You sucked me in with the title. Now you have sucked me in with the pictures. MUSt try this!!
LOL – looks like a fun dish. If that woman had been sitting next to me, she might have got a polite kick in the shins (or I would have thought about it anyway). My favourite burger is one that comes from the good old corner caf – all Australian, with a beef pattie, lettuce, tomato, melted cheese, beetroot, a fried egg and caramelised onions – and sauce! These are hard to get, and a good one is as scarce as hen’s teeth.
Why would that women even be invited to such an event if she loathes food so much? Kick her off the invite list I say, Lol!
The Cheeseburger Soup concept is ….. Odd! Don’t know if I would try it, I much rather the sensation of ‘biting’ into a burger than eating one with a spoon but I take my hat off to you Lorraine, you venture where many would not.
Best burgers I’ve ever tasted to date are from the US of A!
My best burger memories come from my childhood In N Europe – there the burgers are traditionally made of mince from three meats: beef, veal and pork – somehow this gives superb taste and lovely moist texture. No sesame seed bun and the rest of the trimmings are replaced by lightly pickled cucumbers! Not much on the menu these days – but do think I’d still rather bite into a good hamburger than eat it with a spoon! Well, at least I’m being honest. LOL!
There is a new little American Style diner in Darlinghurst – Jazz City Diner, 238 Crown Street. You can try some good American Sliders here, and they do mini size ones so that you can sample every type on the menu! The chef used to work at Vue De Monde, and after soem teething problems in the first few weeks, the portions, and styling of the food is superb! The Banana Cream Pie was also to die for. And I dont’ know if any of you watch Man Vs Food on TLC Discovery Channel on foxtel but man does America make some great looking burgers!!! My boyfriend and I recreated a “Juicy Lucy” burger which was AMAZING! Cheese Burger but with the cheese in middle of the patty so it is molten hot and Juicy!
i am hiding this post from my husband otherwise it will be on the menu this week!
not that there’s anything wrong with that . . .
p.s. that bacon jam recipe looks amazing
love it! xo
that’s amazing.. who’d thought there would be a soup that tastes like cheese burger?!
my best burger was as at The Counter in Crows Nest… big servings though!
Look at the colour of that soup! What an utterly brilliant recipe. Favourite burger has to be the first barbecue burger of the year – usually burnt and eaten in the rain, huddled under umbrellas, but it’s my first taste of summer.
I would so eat that.
Have you ever eaten cheeseburger pizza? A pizza joint near my place makes one. Not bad. Not bad at all
Wow, I don’t know whether to be repulsed or to be gathering the ingredients to cook it straight away! This intrigues me. I think I might just have to give it a go.
I would also love to hear the end of the story regarding your inappropriate dining neighbour?
I can usually take or leave the bacon component of my breaky fry up but have just perused your bacon jam recipe and absolutely have to make it!!! My family will love me and if I throw in the burger soup I will be ever so popular. Thanks.
I love cheeseburgers but I’m not a fan of soup. You’ve inspired me though…maybe I should create a cheeseburger salad!
oooo ingenious! will definitely try it at home.. thanks
That soup is crazy…so crazy it just might work. Just added it to my ‘foods to try’ list
Wow – this sounds very cool. My best burger EVER was at the Top Shop above Yamba’s main beach. It was my first proper burger in 12 months after spending a year living in Canada. This is closely followed by the Black & Blue Cheeseburger I had at Cheeseburger’s in Paradise last week in Waikiki…
looks very interesting. I can just imagine having some of the minced meat with that cheesy soup. Calories galore! Velveeta is just sooo creamy. too bad we don’t get it here
That sounds just disgusting enough to work. Nom.
Awesome idea! I want a hotdog soup….
This soup looks and sounds really nice (yes, I’m surprised!). And great timing, as I have some taco shells that I need to use up and I recall there is a thing called taco soup, as well? Thanks for the reminder
Very interesting idea! The best burger I’ve had is one from a burger chain in Japan called Mos Burger. They create burgers using the very signature Japanese burger pattie squashed between two slabs of rice cakes shaped to look like burger buns. Absolute delish… or as the locals say “Chou oishii yo!”
I have had cheeseburger soup before, and cheesebuger pizza too. Yummy, fun comfort food! And I tried the bacon jam a few months ago and even though my friends looked at me like I was nuts (which I can’t deny) everyone loves it!
Now that is something I’ve never even heard of. What a brilliant creation!
We actually do get Velveeta – it’s marketed and sold as Kraft Cheddar Cheese. You can find it in the supermarket on the SHELF with the breakfast condiments, y’know, like not in the REFRIGERATED section! It’s really not nice – nasty in fact. Cheese with actual dairy content is so much tastier
Cheese burger soup? Wow, I am intrigued. I get very exasperated with people who are not open-minded about food(e.g. I have a friend who does not take mushroom,bananas and papaya). Similarly I don’t like people who thinks their food preference presides over others’.
A deconstructed burger,brilliant and pretty! My best burger was the Wagyu at Plan B of course!
Great idea to cook in this rainy summer days
The most unforgetable burger moment for me would be ZipZap burger in Tokyo. Love the Wagyu Beef Burger so much.
oh dear, I think I am even crazier than you – I know this soup aint for vegetarians and yet I am so tempted to try a veg version – maybe with my favourite nut roast!!!! Sounds intriguing (and that woman sounds horribly rude – makes me wonder how SHE got an invite)
Ohhhh dangerous territory. I am a huge fan of burgers. Yep.
Stand out burgers for me:
In Sydney: Wagyu burger at Rockpool Bar & Grill
In the USA:
Camellia Grill, New Orleans
In N Out Burger, LA (best fast food chain burger, I reckon)
And also, I know this is sappy but my husband does a mean burger. He uses a Jamie Oliver recipe. We call them Jamie burgers
So on my list! My kids would think they have died and gone to Maccas heaven were this to show up on the dinner table.
Interesting soup…my little ones might like this, they are going bonkers at the moment from boredom from all this rain=) What a tight a** woman…i love duck fat, sometimes this kind of ppl needs a good whack behind their heads for a wake up call from their Lala land!
So wrong, yet somehow so right!
I make the best burgers, I like to mix in grated zucchini and Parmesan with the pattie mix, for that little extra surprise
That woman had clearly forgotten that life as well as food are best when served with a side of fun and laughter! This recipe is brilliant, Lorraine. Thanks for giving me a giggle
Going to have to put this on the menu the next time my son and his friends come home from playing basketball. He’ll go sans tomato but the other guys won’t
As for best burger – well – I’m going to have to take the heat for saying my burgers are the best. My most loyal foodie friends and family have honestly given me the big kudos for burgers and it’s honestly one thing I’m asked to grill all year round. Depending on the person depends on the way the patty is prepared but they’re always juicy, cooked to order, filled with flavor and a delicious mess to savor. I’m proud that it’s something my most wonderful friends and family adore. I’ve yet to find any restaurant that can get the same response when it comes down to it.
I might make this as a canape for one of my functions! I’ll leave out the lettuce and serve it in shot glasses. I think it would be so unexpected and a huge hit.
You should have replied by saying “oh, that’s because of my open mind and lovely manners” Then turned your back. The waiters would have cheered you under their breaths and bought you extra drinks.
What a cranky woman. Just because not all was to her preference doesn’t mean it was wrong or bad.
I understand that not all my favourites are everyone elses. Also having food InTolerances doesn’t mean I can’t give full credit and my opinion on ‘ordinary’ food. I can judge it’s presentation, it’s quality, it’s method of cooking and am not so allergic that I can’t taste a little to test flavour ect. Kinda like wine tasting.
If I can do it appreciativley and appropriately, she should be able to as well, as the only thing she sounds InTolerant to is common sense and courtousy.
Im such a sucker for a cheeseburger, I will definitely try this recipe! My favourite burgers ever are from Pauls Burgers in Sylvania (not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet). Far out… you haven’t had a good burger until you’ve been there. And the fresh pineapple juice is a great thirst quencher too
I wish I was a fly at that dinner so I could buzz around that so called elitist-maybe she might get the hint it’s her that is the bad smell!
How dare she!!
Well, I love ideas and recipies with a twist-it’s “cooking-brain exercise” to make us more flexible and less rigid to the monotony of a dish.
My best ever hamburger was at Malak(Darwin) fish and chip shop,1994.
They made there own mince,flavoured it with wild oregano,garlic,olive oil,onion and tiny pieces of tomato;the pattie was put on a flame grill,then onto a white roll bun with fried egg(done on a hot plate with that “crispy,frill” to it, then the cheese(coon,thick slice)iceberg leaf,sauteed onion, beetroot,chunky slice of tomato and tomatoe sauce.
I think i’m gonna have burger dreams tonight!!
BA – HA – HAAAA! You Miss ‘foodus bloggerus’ whacked the nail on the head! That A-Typical Food & Travel writer should be ashamed. She is exactly the thing we culinary artists don’t need promoting the hospitality industry. I do appreciate the dig at her, hope ya sent the ‘poor pet’ a link. LOL!
Now… Cheeseburger Soup, tis indeed pushing the boundaries, but Im game! :0)
hehehe, you know that I simply have to try this out on my family!
xxx
I want a gallon of that, please. Do you watch Triple D too? (the Guy Fieri show)I love that show. He always makes me crave grubby food like this!
Brilliant! A dear friend here in sunny old London is pregnant at the moment, and I have sent her the link to this to say that IF she should feel a craving that I will happily make it for her! (Well – I cant just make it for me now can I?)
1)Who says lettuce doesn’t go on a cheeseburger? It’s a burger which is meat and a bun and then you put whatever you want on it. That’s what’s great about it, you make it how you want it.
2)KRAFT Cheddar Cheese is NOT Velveeta! I grew up with it and it is much creamier and tastier than KCC. Even “good” plastic cheese has its place. Oh how I miss real Velveeta especially when I’m sick and would like it on toast with chicken noodle soup.
The best burgers ever come from western Canada at a chain called The White Spot…They have been around since about the 50s and are still just as fabulous, friends have taken me there straight from Vancouver airport as they know how much I love them. Another burger of note came from a place in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho…it was massive.
I don’t know why anyone would find this weird. The juxtaposition of two comfort foods is actually a brilliant idea!
PS Real Velveeta is stored in the refrigerated section with dairy products cuz it’s real cheese.
You are hilarious. I’m hiding this from The Hungry One. Best burger I ever had; Rockpool Bar and Grill does a pretty mean one, as does In and Out. But for entertainment value, it was at a place called ‘Fatburger’ on the strip in Vegas. We had Christmas lunch there 2 years ago (the flip side to Christmas eve dinner at Joel Robuchon). They scream the burgers orders ‘baby fat! I want a baby fat! ‘Fatburger extra cheese! Fatburger extra cheese!’. It was pretty darn good.
Very interesting concept and recipe. I know the 18 year old in my house would be drooling.
This is just too hilarious, I bet thhe kids would love this! Ooo, I wish you’d name and shame that snooty lady.
fergburger – queens town nz – hands down
My god Lorraine, this looks so silly and fun! And yes, like fashion, food should never be taken too seriously at all times, and there is certainly a place for that which is purely comforting and fun (boo to the stuffy critic!)
Do you know, I actually can’t think of the best burger I’ve ever had! Perhaps that’s a new quest for the next time I’m in America…
Briony xx
YUMMMM cheeseburger soup! LOL this is crazy, I can’t believe someone came up with this but it actually still looks like a cheeseburger!!! Reminds me of when I had the “double down” burger at KFC in new york – basically no bread, but instead you have two pieces of chicken breast as the bread and cheese and bacon in between! WHO NEEDS BREAD???
I’ve had cheeseburger salad (which maybe I’ll try to make one day for all of us) but never soup. Let me honest. I might be one of those who if I saw cheeseburger soup on any one’s else’s blog post I might skip that day, (a bit too rachel ray for me) but you have a way, Lorraine, of drawing me here to see the what and why and that is why you, my dear friend, deserve to be at every food event in the world and I’ll be your fan forever. BTW, the cheeseburger is probably my second favorite food in the world and I’m not afraid to say that. And, duck fat? I love all fat and know that fat is the secret to taste and maintaining a lower weight. Fat keeps you satisfied. Really, I think I should come out with duck fat diet. That’ll fix her.
You know, I’ve been accused of being more than ‘slightly crazy,’ so I’d love a serving of this soup, and don’t be surprised if I ask for a second helping!
In regards to the witch, er, I mean, ‘lady’ who asked how someone like ‘you,’ got invited to such an event, I would’ve replied,
“Lucky, I guess!—how’bout you?”
Vavoom, that is the best of all worlds in a bowl, Lorraine! I hate food snobs… good is good whether $200 a plate or $2 street food. Hairy eyeballs be damned. What must this person think of themselves??? Long lost relative of the last Tzar, perhaps?? Her loss to miss out on food this good!!
Diners, Dive ins and Dives has shown a few episodes on UKTV and I love watching it. Guy is such a character.
I’ve given you an award, please visit my blog for details.
I know what you mean about food snobs – I’ve worked with a few ! This looks fabulous, if you’re not having fun with food then it all gets terribly boring. Best burger ? The Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien in NY, hands down.
Wow, this is so creative! I’m definitely up for trying it. To be honest, I’ve never really had a heart-stopping good burger. Shame. I guess I’ll just have to go to the USA for that!
this soup sounds insanely good!! the title says it all right? how can you not love this? i cant wait to try this out. thank you for sharing this.
I absolutely love Triple D (Diners Drive-ins and Dives). I frequently travel to the states for work and always search out restaurants he has visited for some really rib-sticking food. If you’re ever there, I suggest you try at least one, they are no-fail.
This soup looks awesome! I’ll be sure to try it out soon.
Hmmm…I just had “Rueben soup” at the little diner down the street for lunch.
Do I sense a trend?
Your soup looks great! wonderful idea!
I so need to try this recipe.
My Favorite burger would have to be the Aussie Burger from The Burger Joint in Darlinghurst
Yipppeeee!!! (That’s me squealing in delight, lol!) You read my mind again, love. I’ve been literally dying to make this!! Now I’m inspired all the more after seeing how delicious yours looks!
Hello my dearest darling Lorraine! Just catching up on my reading, since I have been a bit of a lazy bum over the holidays, and I am so glad that you had a chance to try the soup…Thank you so much for including me in your wonderful blog, it was such a lovely surprise to see. I look forward to more exchanges as we sample and uncover more delicious and unique fare. Much love to you! Cat xxoo
I love Diners, Drive Ins and Dives- Everything always looks amazing, including this soup! Yum!
bubble tea cocktails? yes please.
Cafe vue’s wagyu beef burger! I never eat beef really! But cafe vue’s burger converted me!
Wow, this is kinda gross, but intriguing! Haha
I’m ashamed to say that I used to be that fussy adult – what a punish!
Interesting soup spin, might have to give it a whirl with a humble crumble chicken and apricot burger spin. Sound like fun.
Do you want to put the recipe to Campbells for their suggestion box or should I?
What a fun spin on a cheeseburger! And it’s too bad about the snooty writer; amazing to me that some people can think and talk that way without any inkling that they come off as priggish.
Bizarre but strangely appealing!
complete with lettuce! this is one outstanding soup, especially for those of us who’ve always wanted to drink a cheeseburger.
wao.this is gorgeous.
Int-er-est-ing. Mmm. I had a good chuckle when I saw this, but I’m not too sure if I would want to eat it!
Liquid cheeseburger? Not for moi. 
Sounds like a great low carb burger! I would probably need some bread to dip in though..
I think to be a real food lover you have to have an open mind above all. That is why food brings all cultures together. I would have liked to accidentally have spilled some duck fat in that lady’s lap!
This seems so bizarre that I have to try it! Especially as it should actually taste like a cheeseburger. Kids would love this!
Food snobs be damned.
my favourite burger is actually a fish burger… from a small fish and chip shop at Dee Why beach, not the large brightly lit one, the one 2 doors down, i don’t know the name ;-( sorry. Best fish burger ever, huge and juicy and the actual chunk of fish fillet in it is enormous.
Eating it right now. HAD to make it as soon as I saw the recipe. SO good, and not weird like some are expecting. Mmmmm…
Delicious and a real cheer-up! To enhance the cheeseburger taste, I added (don’t freak) extra relish, and a little ketchup and mustard. Perfect, and sure to make you smile.
you can also make a similar martini:
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/now-drinking-the-grilled-cheese-and-tomato-soup-martini
I knew you had mentioned the recipe on a radio interview but never knew you had actually written up a story! SO glad you liked it, Ive made it several times already….thanks love for trying it…so nice to have more free time, now I can catch up on all of my reading…lolol! xoxo
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