Karen Freeman
Summer time is grill time. Grill time means burger time. Burgers are among the most cost effective and yet delicious ways to cook out on a summer afternoon. You can make a burger out of almost anything. That includes beef, chicken, turkey, tuna, and veggies. The possibilities are endless.
You can also take a regular, ground beef, burger and make it taste like almost anything. If you like the flavor of steak, mix it with your favorite steak sauce. If you like spaghetti, top it with your favorite marina sauce. Use your imagination. If you like, it will probably work on a burger. If you want to have some fun, let your kids come up with their own variations for backyard burgers. The sky (or the grill) is the limit.
Our first recipe is the old time favorite – pizza burger. Italian-seasoned ground beef patties are stuffed with mozzarella cheese and then topped with pizza sauce and green pepper rings. You can also mix those things into the burger if you like it that way.
Our second recipe is turkey burgers. These usually have less fat and calories than beef but tend to be drier and more bland. So, play with the spices listed in the recipe to make it as spicy or mild as you like. You can also mix turkey with ground beef to get a little of the beef flavor without all of the fat and calories.
The third recipe is cheese stuffed burgers. You can use any cheese that you prefer. The recipe calls for cheddar. I like sharp cheddar. Pepper Jack would also be very good in this burger.
The fourth recipe is a barbeque burger. In the recipe, you make your own barbeque sauce, but that’s not required. If you have a favorite bottled sauce, you can certainly use that. Once you start making your own sauce, you will find that it’s easy and tastes wonderful.
No matter what kind of burger you decide that you like, pull out the grill, gather the family and enjoy some wonderful family time around the BBQ. Besides, you yard will smell wonderful and your neighbors will be jealous – unless you invite them over to join you!
Pizza Burgers
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound ground beef
2 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 hamburger buns, split
3 tablespoons pizza sauce, warmed
4 green pepper rings
In a small bowl, combine the garlic, bouillon, Italian seasoning and salt. Crumble beef over mixture; mix well. Shape into four thin patties. Place a slice of cheese on two patties; top with another patty and press edges to seal.
Grill, covered, over medium-hot heat for 6-8 minutes on each side or until meat is no longer pink. Serve on buns with pizza sauce and green pepper rings. Yield: 2 servings.
Mexican Turkey Burgers
1/2 cup salsa, divided
1/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
3 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 pound extra-lean ground turkey
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
4 hamburger buns, split
1/2 cup torn curly endive
1 medium tomato, chopped
In a large bowl, combine 1/4 cup salsa, cheese, paprika, oregano, cumin, sugar, garlic powder, thyme, salt and cayenne. Crumble turkey over mixture and mix well. Shape into four burgers.
If grilling the burgers, coat the grill rack with cooking spray before starting the grill. Grill, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 165° and juices run clear.
In a small bowl, combine sour cream and remaining salsa. Place burgers on buns; top with endive, tomato and sour cream mixture. Yield: 4 servings.
Cheese-Stuffed Burgers
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
2 hamburger buns, split
Lettuce leaves and tomato slices, optional
In a small bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into four thin patties. Sprinkle cheese over two patties; top with remaining patties and press edges firmly to seal.
Grill, covered, over medium heat for 6 minutes on each side or until meat is no longer pink. Serve on buns with lettuce and tomato if desired. Yield: 2 servings.
Barbecued Burgers
SAUCE:
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup molasses
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1-1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon Liquid Smoke
1/8 teaspoon pepper
BURGERS:
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup quick-cooking oats
1/4 teaspoon onion salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
6 hamburger buns, split
Toppings of your choice
In a small saucepan, combine the first 10 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat. Set aside 1 cup barbecue sauce to serve with burgers.
In a bowl, combine the egg, oats, 1/4 cup of the remaining barbecue sauce, onion salt, garlic salt, pepper and salt. Crumble beef over mixture; mix well. Shape into six patties.
Grill, covered, over medium heat for 6-8 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees, basting with 1/2 cup barbecue sauce during the last 5 minutes.
Serve on buns with toppings of your choice and reserved barbecue sauce.
Karen’s Kitchen is a weekly column by Karen Freeman of Tarboro. Contact Karen at: kvfreeman@triad.rr.com to exchange ideas, ask questions, submit recipes, tips or suggestions.
