Whole Story

The Official Whole Foods Market® Blog

Top This: A Burger Contest

By Elizabeth Smith, April 29, 2012  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Elizabeth Smith

A few months ago we had an unseasonably warm Sunday. It was the sort of spring day when I open as many windows as possible in hopes of airing out the stale winter air that inhabits the house from fall through winter.

By midafternoon, the beloved scent of barbeque wafted through the open windows, tickled my nose and ignited my appetite. With simply a hot grill, some meat and veggies, my neighbors had officially kicked off grilling season.

Hurrah!

Read on to find out how you could win a $50 Whole Foods Market gift card for your next homemade hamburger dinner.

One of many reasons I’m an ardent fan of grilling is because you can make a fuss-free meal and it doesn’t have to be boring or bland. Take the hamburger for example. Over the years, my husband and I have experimented with lots of different recipes in hopes of creating the best burger ever.

During this quest for perfection, we’ve tried (and enjoyed) lamb, grass-fed beef, portobello mushrooms, turkey and black bean patties. But where we’re able to truly elevate our burger is in our choice of topping. Roasted red peppers. Goat cheese. Savory and sweet relishes. Bacon. Chipotle-spiked mayo.

Surely the world’s perfect burger must include some of these. At my house, we haven’t discovered the ultimate burger topping but we have enjoyed the search and are looking forward to another grilling season of tasting our way through more potential winners.

If you too are on a quest to build a better burger, here are a few of our favorite recipes to inspire you.

Wow your dinner companions with beef burgers topped with cherry-spiked mustard, sweet grilled onions and tangy blue cheese.

Portobello and Pineapple Teriyaki Veggie Burgers offer a delicious family-friendly option without the meat.

Fans of cheese and bacon step forward and try these hearty and flavorful Gorgonzola and Smoky Bacon Burgers.

Raita, a cool cucumber and yogurt sauce, makes an ideal complement to the spicy patties in this lamb burger recipe.

The touch of finely chopped habanero pepper may be just the thing to make Turkey Burgers with Roasted Pepper and Avocado Salsa a star at your table.

Enjoy the fresh flavor of a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich straight from the grill with this burger version.

Do you shake up the standard condiment rundown? Share your best-dressed burger in the comments below by June 30 and you could win a $50 Whole Foods Market® gift card.

Let the grilling begin!

 

460 Comments

Comments

Adrian Paul says ...
My favourite is the NZ burger. You have to try it to believe it is good. Top a beef patty with: a fried egg, slice of beet, fried ham, avocado, tomato, lettuce, cheddar, relish, and aioli sauce.
05/01/2012 9:33:36 PM CDT
Brandi rakita says ...
Mushrooms onions red pepper and galic sauteed then mixed with a little cream cheese salt and pepper
05/01/2012 9:56:47 PM CDT
Tonylee says ...
smoked gouda chipotle mayo applewood bacon caramelized onions
05/01/2012 10:02:57 PM CDT
Rose says ...
I have many fantasy burgers, but in reality, as far as beef goes, I'm a 93% lean burger, pressed thin and well-cooked (no pink slime thank u very much). Add onion jam, homemade ketchup, baked chips, garden tomato, lettuce so it's piled dangerously high on a whole-grain roll and it looks and feels like you're eating a giant-sized burger.
05/02/2012 12:51:18 PM CDT
Tom says ...
I've always enjoyed adding some patio chips to my burger, good quality ones that are thick cut and crunchy. Another option I use sometimes is using ciabatta rolls instead of hamburger buns.
05/02/2012 2:18:29 PM CDT
Victoria says ...
Turkey burger, avacado, baby swiss, grilled mushrooms and a piece of bacon on a whole grain roll.
05/02/2012 6:07:35 PM CDT
Lauren says ...
Turkey burger with sun dried tomatoes, spicy guacamole, goat cheese, olives, shreaded carrots, spring mix, and slap on some chipotle mayo!!
05/02/2012 6:16:53 PM CDT
Robin says ...
Topped with pepper jack cheese, pickled jalapeno peppers, and Tabasco-mayo
05/02/2012 6:28:03 PM CDT
anna pry says ...
Bison burger with mashed avocado and mild corn salsa
05/03/2012 12:52:11 PM CDT
Rose says ...
I love lean sirloin burger with melted Swiss and whole-grain mustard, grilled!!!!
05/03/2012 2:02:33 PM CDT
Jeanine says ...
Salmon Burgers with feta, sundried tomatoes and spinach
05/03/2012 5:53:28 PM CDT
Tina says ...
Black bean burger w/ sprouts, lettuce, tomato,cilantro jalapeno humus & roasted pablano peppers.
05/06/2012 7:47:35 PM CDT
Patricia says ...
I LOVE a turkey burger on a toasted gluten free bun, topped with fig jam, goat cheese and minced fresh basil!
05/07/2012 1:23:12 PM CDT
j.J. says ...
garlic aioli, smoked blue cheese, flavorful yellow onions, and ketchup.
05/07/2012 2:30:07 PM CDT
Candace says ...
Grilled Lamb burgers topped with feta cheese and taziki sauce, roasted red peppers and harrisa/hot sauce. Messy but really good.
05/07/2012 5:22:35 PM CDT
Chris says ...
I have two favorites that are alternatives to your traditional veggie burger. One is a middle eastern burger -- made with chick peas and sun-dried tomatoes -- in a pita with cucumber, tomato, lettuce and creamy dressing. Then there is the super protein burger -- made with quinoa, tofu and peanut butter (among other things) -- on a bun with ketchup, lettuce and tomato.
05/08/2012 2:08:04 PM CDT
Anita says ...
Salsa, queso blanco and homemade guacamole
05/09/2012 2:15:56 PM CDT
Christina says ...
I fix my turkey burgers with spicy pepper jack and cheddar cheeses, lettuce, tomato and grilled onions. I serve it on a toasted onion bun slathered in my own "special sauce" made of mayo, ketchup, spicy brown mustard (I go heavy on the mustard) and dill pickle relish. The sauce is so good I usually make extra to dip my fries in.
05/09/2012 2:33:20 PM CDT
Nicole says ...
I like a black bean burger topped with mexican inspired ingredients: guacamole, pico de gallo, jack cheese, lettuce, and of coarse roasted jalapenos!
05/09/2012 3:23:25 PM CDT
Megan says ...
My burgers are simple - always some type of cheese and sometimes onions, mushrooms and bacon on top.
05/09/2012 3:28:19 PM CDT
Patricia delaGarza says ...
My favorite toppings are avocado and homemade pico de Gallo with feta cheese. Delicious! :)
05/09/2012 3:48:41 PM CDT
Katie says ...
I like to make mine a little Spanish... thinly sliced manchego, pimentos, chopped green olives and a smoked paprika mayo
05/09/2012 4:15:41 PM CDT
Stacie says ...
guacamole, sprouts, tomato, and onion
05/09/2012 4:43:09 PM CDT
Daniel Chae says ...
My favorite burger is one I've eaten for lunch every single day for the last 6 months, and I STILL haven't gotten sick of it! - Grilled Chicken breast - Whole wheat buns with chipotle aioli spread on either bun - Spinach - Red onions for some fresh crunch - Pepper Jack Cheese - then proceed to head the sandwich in a panini press until the cheese gets slightly gooey - finish it off with some pesto-sriracha sauce on the side (50/50 sriracha and pesto aioli) VOILA! Enjoy!
05/09/2012 4:43:27 PM CDT
Katie says ...
Tamarind chutney, arugula and thinly sliced red onion
05/09/2012 5:47:26 PM CDT

Pages