ABs World Famous Burger

A healthy take on the good ol' burger. I love spinach and any recipe that calls for it, I usually have to try it. Loved it!

1 egg
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup oats
1/3 cup diced onion
1/2 cup spinach, chopped
2 tablespoons reduced-fat shredded Mexican-blend cheese
Salt and pepper
Tomato, Avocado and extra spinach leaves to serve
Whole Wheat buns; toasted

In a large bowl, whisk egg. Add everything else, mixing it--your hands are the best tool--until well blended. Form into four patties. Place burgers in a grill pan or nonstick skillet that's heated over medium-high. Cook 6 minutes per side or to desired level of doneness.

Serve with tomatoes and avocados on a whole wheat bun.

Source: The Abs Diet Cookbook

Turkey Burger Pitas with Tahini Sauce

Fast and flavorful turkey burger recipe adapted from Cooking Light - September 2010 edition. 

1/2 cup plain 2% Greek-style yogurt

1 Tablespoon tahini (sesame seed paste)

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1 garlic clove; minced

1/4 cup chopped green onions

3 Tablespoons parsley; finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1 lb ground lean turkey

Cooking spray

2 whole wheat pitas, cut in half

Tomato slices

Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl. 

Combine onions, parsley, salt, onion powder and turkey in a large bowl. Divide mixture into 4 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2 inch- thick patty. 

Heat a grill pan or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray and add patties to the pan. Cook for 4 minutes on each side or until done.

Line each pita half with patty (I sliced cooked patties in half), tomato slices and tahini sauce. 

Knife and Fork Burgers with Stewed Vegetable Gravy

1 large, baking potato; peeled and thinly sliced

1 medium carrot; chopped

2 small ribs of celery, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1 bay leaf

1 tablespoon tomato paste

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

2 cups beef stock (I ran out of beef stock and used 1 cup chicken stock.)

1 1/2 lb ground sirloin

2/3 cup parsley, chopped

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 English muffins, split

Salt and pepper

Olive oil

In a large saucepan, heat olive oil. Add potatoes, carrots, celery, onion and bay leaf; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in tomato pasta. Make a well in the center of the vegetables, add butter and cook until melted. Add flour and stir for 1 minute till absorbed. Add the stock and bring to a simmer; continue cooking till potatoes are tender. Discard bay leaf.

In a large bowl, mix the beef, parsley and Worcestershire sauce; season with salt and pepper. Form 4 patties, thinner in the center for even cooking. Spray a grill pan with cooking spray and cook patties for about 5 minutes on both sides till cooked to liking.

While the burgers are cooking, toast and butter the English muffins.

Place a muffin top on a plate, top with burger then spoon some stew over top.

Chad's rating: 9/10

Amy's rating: 9/10

Recipe adapted from Rachael Ray Magazine.

Spiced Ground Burger with Feta

Spiced Ground Burger with Feta

1 lb ground sirloin

1 Tablespoon cumin

1 Tablespoon oregano

1 Tablespoon Crushed Red Pepper flakes

Salt and pepper

Feta cheese

Hummus

Whole wheat pita bread

Preheat over to 200. Slice pita bread in halves and warm in foil. Warm in oven while cooking.

Add meat to pan that is over medium high heat. Season with spices and continue to brown meat. Drain.

Spread hummus in warmed pita and add meat and cheese.

Chad's rating: 8/10

Amy's rating: 9/10 - next time I would top with Cucumber sauce!

Spiced Mini Burgers with Couscous Salad

Spiced Mini Burgers with Couscous Salad

1 box Parmesan couscous

1 lb. ground beef

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

4 scallions, trimmed and sliced

1 -2 Tomatoes

1 container pine nuts, toasted

1/2 container feta cheese

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 container hummus

Wheat pitas, halved and warmed in oven

Prepare couscous according to package directions.

Combine ground beef with cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Form small patties. Heat olive oil over a grill pan or skillet on medium heat. Add the patties and cook about 4 minutes on each side.

Combine fluffed couscous with scallions, tomatoes, feta, pine nuts and lemon juice.

Serve with pita and hummus.

Chad's rating: 8/10 - not a fan of scallions; would like to try with meat all ground vs. patty style.

Amy's rating: 9/10

Recipe adapted from Real Simple Magazine.

Turkey Feta Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce

Turkey Feta Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce

1 lb ground turkey burger

1 package crumbled feta cheese

6-8 oz non-fat greek yogurt

1/2 seedless cucumber

1 garlic clove

1 lemon

salt & pepper

honey wheat buns

Place greek yogurt in a bowl. Grate 1/2 seedless cucumber over the yogurt. Grating over the bowl lets the juice from the cucumber combine with the yogurt. Grate 1 garlic clove. Squeeze 1/2 lemon over mixture (careful to catch the seeds.) Season with salt and pepper. Mix together and chill in fridge covered.

Combine turkey meat with feta cheese and pepper. Score into 4 patties and form. Make patties indented in the middle to allow for even cooking. Cook on grill or grill pan on both sides till cooked throughly. Spray grill with Pam - to prevent sticking.

Serve on honey wheat bun with Tzatziki Sauce.

Chad's rating: 9/10

Amy's rating: 9.5/10