Dear ground beef, while it’s been real hanging out with you these past 20-something years of my life, I’m sort of ready for a change. I’m over the way you make me feel and how darn tight you make my pants. That’s why you might see me rolling with a new crowd this spring, and you better believe they taste way better than you do.
It’s time to rethink the standard, boring burger, my dolls, and try something with a little less saturated fat and a few more omega fatty-3s. These hefty and hearty fish burgers have the same grab and “mouthfeel,” as my friend Andrew Zimmern would say, but with way less of the fat. Plus, how beautiful are the homemade buns?
Homemade fluffy hamburger buns
Recipe slightly adapted from King Arthur Flour
Yields about 8
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F)
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter, divided
- 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- Salt
- 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Once preheated, turn off. Grease a glass bowl with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the yeast and water. Let sit for about 10 minutes, or until foamy. Fit the mixer with a dough hook and add in egg, 2 tablespoons of melted butter, sugar and salt. Turn the mixer on. Add the flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough is soft and pulls away from the bowl. Move to a lightly floured surface and knead for a few more minutes, or until soft and elastic.
- Roll the dough into a ball and place in the greased bowl. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise for about 1-1/2 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Remove from oven and break the dough into 8 equal-size pieces. Carefully roll with your hands until you have thick bun shapes. Place on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Place in the oven and let rise another 1-1/2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the buns with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Bake for about 18 minutes, or until golden brown. Sprinkle with sesame seeds or enjoy!
1
Avocado shrimp burgers
Serves about 4
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 pounds shrimp, cooked and chopped into fine pieces
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 avocado, smashed
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 4 slices provolone cheese
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
- Salt and pepper. to taste
- 4 homemade hamburger buns
Directions:
- In the bowl of a food processor, place the shrimp and pulse until minced. Add in the Worcestershire sauce, lime juice, green onions, salt, pepper, Mexican oregano and breadcrumbs. Pulse until mixture is combined (and thick).
- Form the mixture into 4 patties and place on a plate. Chill for about 30 minutes (so they set).
- Once chilled, heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the patties, 2 at a time, and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 6-7 minutes total.
- To assemble, stack the buns with a slice of cheese, 1/4 of the smashed avocado, fresh cilantro and a dash of cracked pepper.
2
Jumbo crab & basil burgers
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 2 cans (12 ounces) fresh lump crabmeat
- 1 cup soft breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1-1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 small white onion, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 hamburger buns
- Fresh basil for garnish
- Mayonnaise for garnish
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix everything together (except the buns, basil and mayonnaise for garnish). Mix with your hands to combine. Make 4 patties with the mix and place on a dinner plate. Chill for about 30 minutes.
- Once chilled, drizzle the oil into an 8 x 8-inch glass baking dish. Place the burgers in the oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Immediately layer with mayo, fresh basil and salt and pepper on the homemade buns.
3
Spicy mustard and cod burgers
Serves about 4
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 pounds cod fillets
- 3/4 cup finely pulsed breadcrumbs (or biscuits)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon spicy mustard
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 hamburger buns
- 1/4 cup mustard & mayo sauce
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 large green pepper, sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Fresh dill for garnish
Directions:
- Using 2 forks, gently flake the cod into small pieces and place into a mixing bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, garlic, spicy mustard, salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix until it comes together. Carefully form the mixture into 4 patties.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet. Add the patties, 2 at a time, and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Using the same pan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the onions and peppers. Cook until soft and onions are caramelized, about 6 minutes.
- To make the burgers, stack a cod patty and a spoonful of veggie mixture onto the bottom bun. Slather the top bun with 1 tablespoon of mustard and mayo sauce.
- Garnish each burger with fresh dill.
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