May the Fourth: 5 recipes that are perfect for Star Wars Day

Bantha Burgers and Blue Milk Buns

What sets these Star Wars-inspired burgers apart from every other in the galaxy is their distinctive blue milk bun, made with milk and a little blue gel dye. They're perfect to serve up to friends during a BBQ.

Bun Ingredients:

• 1 cup, plus one tablespoon milk, warmed (40-45°C)
• Blue food gel dye
• 1 (1 and a half teaspoons) package yeast
• 3 cups flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
  2 tablespoons of butter, melted
• 1 egg plus 1 teaspoon of water for the egg wash

Beef patty Ingredients:

• 500g Quality Mark beef mince
• 1 finely chopped red onions
• 1 grated courgette
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 3 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 3 tbsp parsley

For the buns:

1. In a heat-safe measuring cup, bring the milk up to temperature in the microwave (40-45°C), add the blue food gel dye to color, then the yeast, stirring until bubbly.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer stir together the flour, sugar, and salt. Use the dough hook to add the egg, butter, and slowly add the yeast mixture just until the dough comes together.
3. Prep baking sheets with a silicon baking mat or parchment.
4. Flour a surface and turn out the dough. Knead a few times then divide into 10 equal balls.
5. Place 5 to a sheet onto the prepped baking sheets, place in a warm space and let rise for approximately one hour.
6. Preheat the oven to 190 °C.
7. Brush the tops of the buns with the egg wash and bake for 12-14 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
8. Once cooled, slice to serve and fill with burger fillings. Use this recipe for inspiration.

This recipe is based on Jenn Fujikawa's Blue Milk Buns.

Imperial Nachos

These Imperial Nachos are topped with pulled beef, cheese, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream stormtrooper helmets.

Pulled Beef Ingredients:

• 750g, cut into 5 cm cubes Quality Mark chuck steaks
• 2, finely chopped onions
• 4, crushed garlic cloves
• 2 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp allspice
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp, fresh chopped oregano
• 1 cup beef stock
• 400g chopped tomatoes in juice
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp chilli flakes
• 1 stick cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaf
• 400g red kidney beans

To Serve:

• Shredded cheese
• Guacamole
• Salsa

Death Star Chips recipe:

• Death Star cookie cutter by Williams Sonoma
• 10-12 corn tortillas
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• Salt

Stormtrooper Sour Cream Helmets recipe:

• Star Wars Silicone Tray Stormtrooper by Kotobukiya
• 1/2 cup of sour cream

Method:

1. Place a large frying pan over low heat.
2. Add a dash of oil and the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the garlic and cook for a further 30 seconds.
4. Transfer to a slow-cooker dish.
5. Rub the meat with cumin, allspice, and oregano.
6. Increase the heat and add another dash of oil to the pan.
7. Add the beef in batches and brown on both sides, placing in the slow-cooker dish as you go.
8. Pour the stock, tomatoes, tomato paste, vinegar and add the brown sugar to the pan and bring up to the boil.
9. Add the chilli flakes, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf and pour into the slow-cooker dish.
10. Cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 3/4-4 and a half hours. 45 minutes before the end of cooking time, turn the slow cooker to high (if cooking on low).
11. While the beef is cooking, preheat the oven to 180°C.
12. Use the Death Star cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the corn tortillas.
13. Place the cutouts onto a baking sheet and brush with vegetable oil.
14. Bake for 7 minutes, turn over and bake for another 7-8 minutes until crisp.
15. Place on a wire rack. Sprinkle with lime juice and salt. Keep in an airtight container until ready to use.
16. When the beef is done, place the chips onto a plate. Shred the beef and place on top of the chips, top with cheese, add the salsa and guacamole.
17. Prep the sour cream stormtroopers by spooning sour cream into the silicone mold. Press with a knife to get into all the creases. Place in the freezer until just set, approximately 8 minutes.
18. Press out the stormtrooper helmets from their molds and place onto the middle of the nachos to serve.

This recipe is inspired by Jenn Fujikawa's Imperial Pork Nachos.