I bet you had no idea when I posted Creamy Avocado Salsa Verde on Monday, that I was scheming behind the scenes. It was all part of the master-plan to introduce you to this oddly intriguing hamburger.
We eat a lot of hamburgers. Although my hubby would gladly dine on fine cuisine anytime the opportunity arises, he’s really a burger and pizza kind of guy. Needless to say, when your husband craves hamburgers all the time, you find ways to get creative with them. We’ve made a plethora of hamburger recipes over the years. Our latest creation, Salsa Verde Burgers with Fontina Watermelon and Basil, is essentially a glorified cheeseburger. The patty is a simple beef patty topped with rich melty fontina cheese. All the bells and whistles are in the “fixins.”
Instead of using plain-jane lettuce and tomato, we decided to give basil leaves and watermelon a go. Watermelon mimics the moist clean texture of a good slice of tomato, but offers a much sweeter bite. The delicate essence of licorice from the basil leaves, is the perfect accompaniment to the watermelon and salty cheese. Finally, creamy and zesty Salsa Verde gives the burger the necessary kick of acidity and spice to create the perfect balance of flavors. You may ask, why watermelon? Tomatoes are so ripe and plentiful this time of year; why mess with a good thing? If you must have a tomato on your burger, I understand. Yet, watermelon is definitely worth giving a try. Sometimes all a run-of-the-mill dinner needs, is a kick in the pants and a new ingredient.
How to Make Perfect Hamburger Patties:
Don’t overwork the meat; it will get tough. Gently toss in the seasoning, keeping the ground meat loose. Use a knife to separate the meat into equal portion, so you don’t have 3 uniform burgers and one “baby” burger. Press the meat into a ball, then flatten on wax paper and reform the edges. MAKE A DENT IN THE CENTER. The middle of a patty tends to puff while cooking. If you don’t do this, you’ll end up with hamburger balls. Make the patties slightly larger than the buns. They shrink while cooking and will end up being the same size. A little pink in the center is a good thing. You don’t want to eat raw burgers, but try not to overcook the patties. Pink = Juicy!
Serve These Burgers With: Homemade Napa Chips Grilled Corn with Smokey lime Mayo Peach and Basil Salad Provencial Style Potato Salad Other Great Summer Burgers: Ahi Tuna Burgers Pineapple Chorizo Burgers Szechuan Burgers Greek Style Burgers Spicy Black Bean Burger ~ Eat Live Run Tuna Burgers ~ Sippity Sup Share This Recipe With Friends!
