Japanese Hamburg Steak with Demi-Glace

Step 1

Pour 3 tablespoons of milk into a small bowl, then sprinkle 0.25 cup of panko breadcrumbs into the milk and stir until the breadcrumbs absorb all the milk, about 30 seconds.

Step 2

Dice the onion half into pieces smaller than a grain of rice by cutting it lengthwise into thin slices, then turning those slices and cutting them crosswise into tiny cubes.

Step 3

Place 10 ounces of ground beef into a large bowl, add the soaked breadcrumb mixture and the diced onion, then mix with your hands until just combined—do not overmix or the patties will be tough.

Step 4

Divide the beef mixture in half and shape each half into an oval patty about 1 inch thick and 3 inches long, using your palms; press a small indent into the center of each with your thumb so it won't puff up while cooking.

Step 5

Place a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter, swirling the pan until the butter is completely melted and foamy, about 1 minute.

Step 6

Once the butter is foamy, carefully slide both beef patties into the pan, spacing them 2 inches apart, and do not touch them for 4 minutes until the bottoms turn a deep golden-brown color.

Step 7

Flip each patty over using a spatula and cook the second side without moving them for another 4 minutes until that side also turns golden-brown; the meat should feel firm when poked with your finger.

Step 8

Transfer both patties to a clean plate and set them to the side of the skillet, leaving any browned bits in the pan.

Step 9

Pour 0.5 cup of beef broth into the same skillet over medium heat and use a wooden spoon to scrape and stir the stuck-on brown bits from the pan bottom for 30 seconds until they dissolve.

Step 10

Stir 1 tablespoon of soy sauce into the broth, then return both patties to the skillet and spoon the sauce over them.

Step 11

Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 3 minutes, basting the patties with sauce by tilting the pan and spooning liquid over them once every minute.

Step 12

Remove the skillet from the heat, add 2 tablespoons of butter to the sauce, and stir until the butter is melted and the sauce looks glossy, about 20 seconds.

Step 13

Taste the sauce and add a pinch of salt and pepper if needed, then slide each patty onto a serving plate and pour the sauce over the top.