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Read MoreTuesday 10: Paleo Burger Toppers
http://www.MelJoulwan.com/2012/07/31/tuesday-10-burger-toppers/
Oh, the bunless burger! It’s the safe refuge of the paleo eater in a non-paleo world. From low-rent burger joints to higher-end restaurants, you can almost always find a variation of meat-and-veg in the shape of a burger without a bun.
A humble meat patty can save you from a meal-related meltdown at home, too.
I almost always have a pound of grass-fed ground beef defrosting or already defrosted in the fridge, and we always have at least three pounds of grass-fed ground beef in the freezer… just in case there’s a protein emergency. There are all kinds of ways to flavor the meat itself to make the burgers special, but this post isn’t about that. This post about the simplest, fastest, easiest way to make a plain burger taste good: plopping interesting stuff on top of it.
Paleo Burger Toppers
For all of these ideas, you can either load up the rest of the plate with cooked veggies (steam-sauté them then toss with crushed garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Done and delicious!) or piles of fresh, raw veggies for what we always called “sporty supper” when I was a kid.
1
All-American
This one is a “no duh” but it must be included because it’s the classic. Pile the following on top of the burger: a thick slice of red onion, a slab of organic tomato, a bunch of your favorite pickles, and a healthy dollop of homemade mayo. If you’re a bacon person, add a slice and revel in the smokiness.
2
Pesto
I love the classic basil pesto, but you can experiment with other herbs; parsley, mint, and oregano are all fun. And you can go with bigger leaves, too! Spinach, kale, and collards all mellow in a lovely way when whirled with olive oil, nuts, and garlic. Here are some ideas for different pestos. Just spread a little on top of a warm burger and top with finely diced organic tomatoes.
3
An Egg
Eggs rule. Put a fried egg on top of a burger and both are transformed from their ho-hum natural state to humdinger! Bonus if you use these egg-topper ideas on the egg you use to top your burger. It’s yum to the nth power!
4
Vinaigrette or Chimichurri
This simple equation is all you need:
extra-virgin olive oil + acid + herbs = lip-licking flavor
This Chimichurri or Moroccan Dipping Sauce are a nice place to start, or you can just play around. Whisk a few tablespoons of citrus juice or vinegar with an equal amount of olive oil, then add crushed dried herbs or minced fresh herbs, salt, and pepper. If you want to put in another minute of work, you can add a crushed garlic clove. Good combos include: lemon+oregano, orange+rosemary, lime+cilantro, vinegar+parsley.
5
Vegetable Relish
You cannot go wrong here. Pick out some raw veggies you like — cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, tomatoes, radishes, scallions, bell peppers — and dice them very fine. Throw them in a bowl with a little acid (citrus juice or vinegar), extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then pile on top of the burger. Bonus points if you add a small dollop of homemade mayo on top of that.
6
Seasoned Fats
Even a small amount of fat is a major flavor booster. Top your burger with a little seasoned fat and you will be so happy — and by “a little,” I really mean a little. Even just 1/2 teaspoon makes all the difference. Try clarified butter (ghee), coconut oil, or extra-virgin olive oil plain or mixed with a favorite spice or spice blend (like Ras el Hanout or Turkish Baharat). Sesame oil is particularly nice with a crushed garlic clove and instantly makes any meat burger (pork, turkey, beef, chicken) taste Asian.
7
Fruit Salsa
Summer is a great time to mix the sweetness of fresh fruit with some savory goodness. You can eat fruit salsa hot or cold. Just mince the fruit, toss with a little lemon juice or vinegar (wine, pomegranate, raspberry, and cider are good choices), and a pinch each of cinnamon and salt. Let flavors meld at room temp or cook for 3-5 minutes over medium-high heat.
8
Gravy
Bet you thought paleo meant no gravy! Think again. Mix 1 teaspoon arrowroot powder with a little cool water until smooth. Heat 1 cup of beef broth in a saucepan over medium-high heat until boiling. Drizzle in the arrowroot and whisk until smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme. Simmer until thickened to a consistency you like and drizzle over your burger. Make it a diner dinner with mashed cauliflower on the side.
9
Asian Slaw
Julienne any or all of these veggies: cabbage, red bell pepper, zucchini, carrots, scallions. Quickly stir-fry in coconut oil until tender, then toss with a little coconut aminos (or homemade substitute), a pinch of ginger, and a crushed garlic clove. Pile on top of the burger; bonus if you serve the whole shebang on top of cauliflower rice.
10
Curry Sauce
Stir-fry a tablespoon of curry paste in a teaspoon of coconut oil over medium-high heat for 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup coconut milk, bring to a boil, and simmer 5 minutes. Drizzle over burger and top with minced cilantro. You might also like this South Indian Curry.
Turn it up to 11: SB&J Burger
YUMMY! A hot, juicy burger topped with creamy, melted sunbutter and homemade strawberry “jam.” It’s creamy, sweet, salty, lusciousness. Find the full recipe and instructions for the SB&J Burger right here. Then love yourself right by making one. Today!
Still hungry? Try these
March
10
Posted by
MMM: Bacon-Jalapeno Burger Balls
What do you say to juicy beef meatballs with bacon and jalapeños dropping dimes on dinner?! I say you can eat these all day long......
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I love topping my burger with a (clarified) buttery fried egg. Thanks for the ideas!
Ooh! Don’t forget carmelized onions and sauted mushrooms. Yummo!!
bacon, avocado, homemade pico de gallo…wrapped in lettuce. Yum!
I made burgers today for lunch with pesto mayo. Delicious!!
That makes me wish I hadn’t eaten the last of our homemade pesto yesterday. Sigh.
I love mine topped with a fried egg AND some sauerkraut. YUM.
Thanks for all the great ideas!
Thanks so much for tipping me off to Applegate Organic Turkey/Beef patties! I find that when I neglect cook for the week on Sundays, it really has me scrambling for some healthy, easy protein sources. These are great in a pinch!
For me, it’s guacamole and bacon all the way. 🙂
We have a restaurant that serves (local beef) burgers that you can top with a runny fried egg and slightly sticky, slightly spicy bacon. Heaven! It’s 3 blocks from my house and I’d eat there every week if I could afford too.
Chimichurri: I can stuff. I know how because it’s something my family does, and has done for generations, I’m not one of those “back-to-the-earth-hipsters”. I am thinking of canning the chimichurri, any thoughts on that?
I wish I could help. I know ZERO about canning. I suspect the herbs would get kinda yucky after a while, but I’m not sure.
Well I’ll give it a try and report back. As long as I don’t explode a hot jar of olive oil all over myself it can’t taste any worse than the store-bought-non-paleo chimichurri can it?
I would be cautious because of the garlic in olive oil. Anything grown IN the ground has the potential to have botulism spores and oil would create an anaerobic environment that botulism likes. I don’t think there’s enough acid in chimichurri to make it safe. I know a lot of casual canners debate whether or not garlic in olive oil is safe, but I wouldn’t trust it 100%.
That being said, now that you’ve got me thinking about it, I’m tempted to preserve chimichurri in the freezer! If you keep it cold enough it’s safe from the botulism, and you could make a HUGE batch and pull it out of the freezer whenever you need to.
Yum-O! Okay, now I need a burger. At 10 PM. Thanks, Mel.
Wow great list, I’m gonna have to work my way through all of them 🙂
Pickled beets. This is especially awesome if you’ve got a bison burger to put them on. But you can never go wrong with a nice, properly fermented beet on meat!
We top our burgers with guacamole, roasted green chiles, and pickled jalepenos.
I didn’t have the bunless version, but what the Australians call “the lot” was pretty amazing and would work bunlessly:
pickled beets (might have to pickle your own sans sugar)
grilled pineapple
fried egg
optional grilled onion
Can’t take credit for it since my DO figured it out: kimchee. Related: homemade sauerkraut and spicy mustard. Never thought I would like it on a burger but it is really good! Plus, you get a probiotic boost.