Step 1

Make your own breadcrumbs.  Cut or tear the bread into small pieces, place in a blender, and let it whirl for a minute until the breadcrumbs are small.

Step 2

Mix together the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, and spices with your hands.  Let the meat mixture rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. Divide into 12 balls of equal size, roughly 3.25 ounces (92g) each.  Shape patties to be similar in thickness.

Step 3

In two cast iron skillets over medium high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter per skillet, swirl it around, allow the skillet to heat up then place 6 patties in each skillet.  Cook patties for 2 minutes on medium heat then 2 minutes on medium low.  Flip them over and cook the other side.

Step 4

Transfer the 12 cooked beef patties to a 9x9-inch baking pan.  Place them close together, but in one layer.  Set aside.

Step 5

For easy clean up, pour the hamburger fat into a small bowl and place in the fridge for it to harden into a disc, then discard.

Step 6

Halve both onions, then cut them into thin slices.  Separate each piece.

Step 7

In one of the cast iron skillets, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium high heat, then add the onions.  Turn the heat down to medium and cook for a few minutes, then turn the heat down to medium low and finish cooking.  Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon until caramelized, roughly 15 minutes.

Step 8

To deglaze the pan, pour in 1/4 cup of white wine.  Stir constantly until the fond is off the bottom of the pan.  This is will take roughly 2 minutes.

Step 9

Make a well in the center of the onions and melt 2 tablespoons of butter in it.  Sprinkle the onions with salt and pepper, then sprinkle 1/4 cup of flour over the onions.  Cook the flour for two minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.

Step 10

Gradually add the the stock, constantly stirring as you do so, then add two teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce for additional color and flavor.

Step 11

Let the gravy simmer until its the desired thickness.  Taste and sprinkle more salt and pepper over the gravy if desired.  You should have about 2 cups of gravy.

Step 12

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Step 13

Spoon the onion gravy over the patties in the baking pan.  Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.  This step lets the patties finish cooking and helps them stay moist.

Step 14

Serve warm.  Spoon the onion gravy over each beef patty.  Garnish with freshly chopped parsley.