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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!

Category: Food & Recipes, Meat, Value - Whole Deal
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460 Comments

Comments

carrie says ...
wild boar meat, baby swiss, bourbon sauted mushrooms, smoked mozzarella, pineapple, haas avocado, canadian bacon, fried and apple smoked onions, roasted red peppers and ranch dressing
05/13/2012 10:19:28 AM CDT
anne says ...
I prefer vegan spicy black bean burgers (black beans, brown rice bread crumbs, egg replacer, red pepper, jalapeno, onion, cumin) topped with fresh avocado slices, homemade cannellini bean hummus, and pea shoots. Yum!
05/13/2012 11:30:57 AM CDT
Lori Thomas says ...
Mix of 60/40 ground beef and pork, chopped yellow onion, Worcestershire, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, 1 egg. Mix, grill and top- Topping: Rich & Creamy Cilantro Sauce 1 cup chopped cilantro 1/2 cup chopped parsley 1/2 cup walnuts 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 medium orange, about 3 tbsp 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar 1/8 cup water 1 spring fresh rosemary, about 1 tsp, chopped salt & pepper to taste (taste, adjust, taste again, taste again, and again…) Pulse all ingredients together with a food processor or immersion blender, until mostly creamy- some chunks of walnuts add to the texture. Trust me, your taste buds will never taste anything quite as good again... (May also layer on sliced heirloom tomato, crisp butter lettuce, and a dash of balsamic vinegar.) DELICIOUS.
05/13/2012 1:38:16 PM CDT
Margo says ...
organic turkey burger with cranberry jelly Avocado, brie and mixed greens. This is yum with or without the turkey!
05/14/2012 12:18:50 AM CDT
Sonia says ...
Medium well burgers topped with melted swiss cheese, garlic infused mayo, grilled onions, avacado slices, a tomato and applewood bacon. Yum!
05/14/2012 9:52:06 AM CDT
petia modarelli says ...
I top my burger with blu cheese crumbles, bacon, onion rings, and bbq sauce YUMMY!
05/14/2012 12:04:30 PM CDT
Catherin says ...
Peanut butter, bacon, strawberry jam.
05/14/2012 2:00:01 PM CDT
LW says ...
I have a Japanese inspired burger: I top my burger with some pickled Japanese vegetables, and wasabi mixed into some mayo.
05/14/2012 2:02:45 PM CDT
Philonda Short says ...
I like to top my burger onion rings lettuce Tomatoes and ranch dressing Yummo
05/14/2012 2:09:03 PM CDT
Philonda says ...
Oops i forgot the cheese so its Cheddar cheese onion ring lettuce tomatoe and Ranch Yummo
05/14/2012 2:10:34 PM CDT
Monica says ...
Seasoned Turkey burger -- topped with creamy balsamic vinagrette mixed with crushed corn flakes, and small, sweet, yellow onion, thin-sliced crispy onions rings (crisped in butter)! mmm-mmm-mmmm!
05/14/2012 3:01:57 PM CDT
Jameil says ...
Pepper jack, avocado, & pico de gallo. So. good.
05/14/2012 4:01:01 PM CDT
natasha f says ...
Burgers: 1 lb beef, salt and tellicherry black pepper to taste, diced portabella mushrooms, diced red onions, and small cubes of sharp cheddar (or guoda) cheese, minced garlic...mix together and form patties. Sear each side to lock in flavor and moisture. Toppings: Sliced onions, cajun mayo (cajun seasoning and mayo blended together), two strips of nicely fried bacon, a slice of pepperjack cheese, spring mix lettuce, and a little roasted garlic that's been sliced. Any bun works well although I prefer a ciabatta bread or onion roll. Delicious!
05/14/2012 5:01:10 PM CDT
Suzy says ...
Bison patty, topped with caramelized red onions, bacon, avocado, tomato, and ranch dressing.
05/14/2012 5:36:54 PM CDT
Rosann Parrinello says ...
Organic turkey burger toppped with homemade buffalo wing sauce and blue cheese crumbles.Lightly grilled Ezekiel 4:9 hamburger/sandwich thins.
05/14/2012 8:07:03 PM CDT
Patti says ...
Best Tex-Mex Burger 90/10 Burger meat, salt pepper - grill Top with refried beans and queso (American Cheese, butter, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos) Now add small Fritos on top of cheese Smear buns with Avocado. Yum Yum!
05/15/2012 8:47:33 AM CDT
Matt Brown says ...
I put green apple guacamole on a burger. Here's the recipe: 1 green apple, peeled and chopped in small pieces 1 avocado 2 tablespoons of cilantro 1 tablespoon of lime 1 jalapeño chopped (optional) Mix all the ingredients together and you have green apple guacamole.
05/15/2012 9:00:26 AM CDT
Nicola Gabriel says ...
I will only eat burgers that have awesome toppings - my current fave is a spicey morrocan salad called matbucha (mat-book-ah), I make it myself, it is simple to do and the ingredients are easy to find at Whole foods. It elevates a boring old burger to gourmet level - yummy!
05/15/2012 10:04:12 AM CDT
Catalina S says ...
Homemade turkey burgers topped with gouda cheese, avocado, tomato, arugula, bacon and a homemade cilantro sauce. yum...
05/15/2012 10:14:05 AM CDT
Amanda says ...
okay i know this will sound crazy, and I am not an adventurous eater but I did try this and loved it! Hamburger with peanut butter, fried banana's, and bacon! I NEVER would have imagined that peanut butter would be so good on a burger!!
05/15/2012 10:41:36 AM CDT
James says ...
Mix 1/3 ground lamb with 2/3 ground beef. Top fresh-baked bun with: 2 slices of brie. 2 slices of bacon. Beer battered fried onions (3-4 thin rings). Mache. Black Krim heirloom tomato slice, salted and peppered on both sides. Garlic and pesto aioli. Eat with delight, delirium, and deliciocity.
05/15/2012 11:00:40 AM CDT
Sheena says ...
My fave is a Salmon Burger with Scallions topped with: •Avacado •Feta •Mayo Sauce, which consists of: Mayo, Scallions, Black Pepper, & a generous squeeze of Lime Top it off with a few sprigs of Cilantro & a squeeze of Lime on a Toasted Whole Wheat Bun... & bite into heaven!
05/15/2012 11:14:03 AM CDT
Suzanne says ...
Turkey burger - mix ground turkey with fresh onion (chopped), a variety of spices including oregano, garlic, chili, cumin. Make oven roasted potatoes for the side, with the same spices. Top the burger with sauteed mushrooms, cheese, lettuce, tomato and of course a pickle on a big, beautiful kaiser roll!
05/15/2012 11:53:37 AM CDT
Michele Rolfe says ...
Salmon Fillet Burgers w/Chipotle Mayo on Chibatta Rolls This is my personal creation- Lightly toasted Chibatta,with Chele's Chipotle Mayo sauce Shredded lettuce, red onion rings thinly sliced, grilled salmon filets bushed with Chele's tequila lime marinade add slice of Havarti cheese during last minute of grilling to melt. Serve with sides of quacamole,chipotle mayo sauce spiked with fresh cilantro, fresh lime slices to squeeze over hot salmon with harvati, place on Chibatta and serve with Chele's homemade Chipotle Pico De Gallo. Or a fruity version Chele's Chipotle Mango/Peach Salsa,enjoy! Recommend Black bean chips and roasted red pepper chips for a side...
05/15/2012 2:14:40 PM CDT
Emma says ...
my best dressed burger starts with organic beef - 80 or 85%, mixed gently and quickly with black pepper & worcestershire sauce (no salt, since the W. sauce has quite a bit already in it), grill to medium well, serve on a homemade bun (Bittman's no knead bread recipe is great for this, just cut the dough into smaller rounds, and proof & bake from there). When we don't have the foresight to make our own buns, then a lightly toasted batard makes a close substitute (but we never use soggy bagged buns). Lightly toast the insides of the bun (or baguettte) & put a thin coating of pesto mayo & serve the burger on the bun, stacked with fresh tomato, onion, applewood bacon, hunks of avocado (lightly salted), & a thin slice of a sharp cheddar cheese on the underside. I'm a ketchup purist, so organic ketchup on mine, but a grain mustard on DH's. We both like a full sized deli pickle on the side :)
05/15/2012 2:20:35 PM CDT

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