Old-Fashioned Hamburger Relish (3 Ingredients)

Here's an old-fashioned hamburger relish recipe that combines 3 simple, easy-to-find ingredients. The end result is a relish that enhances – not conceals – the flavor of the burger.

There are a million different ways to zhuzh up a hamburger. And there are thousands and thousands of fancy, over-the-top hamburgers on restaurant menus all over the world.

But what about the old-fashioned burgers? The ones that have been around forever, that are most delicious in their simplicity.

I've recently become interested in the history of hamburgers. Yes, the history of hamburgers.

I'm hooked on YouTube videos telling the stories of old hamburger joints and highlighting long-standing hamburger restaurants across the U.S. that haven't changed their menus in nearly a century.

If you're into food history, check out the Hamburger America documentary. 

As it turns out, the old hamburger joints really prove that sometimes, less is more. 

I was lucky enough to grow up near one of the oldest hamburger shops in the Midwest: Nick's Hamburgers in Brookings, South Dakota.

Nick's opened in 1929. My grandparents used to eat there in the 1930s and beyond. And my family has been eating there ever since.

Their menu is small: Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, pie, and shakes. My usual order is 2 hamburgers with their homemade relish (more on that later), a bag of chips and a small glass of chocolate milk. 

Their burgers are small – slider sized. The beef is cooked in tallow (I believe… they won't divulge their cooking secrets!) and the burgers are served on fresh, soft bakery buns.

Personally, I don't think you'll find a better burger anywhere. 

And let's talk about that burger relish.

About The Recipe: Old-Fashioned Hamburger Relish

A good burger doesn't need a lot of sauces or toppings to shine.

When I'm grilling burgers at home, I typically top them with this old-fashioned relish, which adds the perfect pungent punch to the burger without changing the flavor. No need for super sweet ketchup or lots of fancy and unnecessary burger toppings. 

This old-fashioned hamburger relish is a simple mix of three ingredients:

• Dill pickles (or dill pickle relish)
• White onions
• Yellow mustard

And that's it. Each of these ingredients holds its on in terms of flavor. When combined, it makes for the perfect burger topping to enhance – not change – the flavor of the burger.

Interested in another hamburger relish recipe? Check out this red hamburger relish recipe, with tomatoes, sweet relish, and warm spices.

What You'll Need To Make This Recipe

This recipe is really as simple as combining 3 easy-to-find ingredients:

1. Dill pickles: You have a couple of options here: You can chop your own dill pickles (whole, spears, or slices) or use jarred dill pickle relish (with no extra flavors added).
2. Onion: White onion is preferable for this recipe, but yellow onion will work in a pinch.
3. Yellow mustard: Old-fashioned yellow mustard – smooth, not whole grain – is ideal for this recipe. I used Trader Joe's organic yellow mustard. French's, Heinz, or another regular yellow mustard brand will work.

The key to making this relish as tasty and aesthetically pleasing as possible is to finely chop the onions and pickles. You don't want large chunks of either in the relish.

This relish is great on burgers, but also try it on:

• Hot dogs (add as a topping on a DIY hot dog bar)
• Cheesy hot dog wontons
• Homemade sloppy joes

It's time to upgrade your burger the classic way. Try this old-fashioned hamburger relish on your next burger and let me know what you think!