Dress up that Burger

Upon being diagnosed with Celiac disease or a gluten allergy it’s easy to go the simple and plain route with food – a plain grilled chicken breast or a plain hamburger patty with perhaps a little cheese.  Perhaps this is mostly due to the fear of being contaminated or the lack of knowledge about what ingredients are “ok” and safe to eat.  It has always bothered me – this depravity – only because I know how much more flavorful and exciting food can be with some simple additions of safe, gluten-free spices, seasonings, sauces and/or fruits and veggies.  And once food becomes exciting and flavorful again, the gluten-free diet becomes not all that bad!

Burgers with Grilled Pineapple

So since this is the season for hamburgers, let’s talk hamburgers.  I’ve experienced with a ton of different store bought and homemade gluten-free hamburger buns and have been less than impressed.  So instead of forcing a square peg through a round hole I simply opt for no bun and focus on the other ingredients.  Let’s look at the basic elements of the burger:  patty, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, ketchup, mayo and mustard.  Certainly not a bad combination, as it’s been proved over and over again by every fast food joint across the world, but since we are having to be inconvenienced by having our burger at home and making it ourselves, let’s look at this as an opportunity to make our burger more special and more delicious than what everyone else can have.  Let’s again look at the pieces of a burger and see other ways we can dress it up:

Now that you have some great ideas to add amazing flavor to your burger let’s talk about the presentation. 

Mexican Burgers

Your burger should not only taste great but it should also look great.  I like to start with the tomato slice on the bottom followed by the patty, then the cheese, the sauce, then the onion, veggies or fruit and top with mixed greens or frisee.  Just because you are gluten-free doesn’t mean you need to be deprived when it comes to burger time.  Place one of these beautiful burgers on the table and everyone will be jealous!

Gouda Burgers

For specific recipes using some of the ingredients above, check out these delicious burger recipes:

Burgers with Grilled Pineapple
Burgers with Mango Mayo
Burgers with Roasted Red Pepper, Mayo & Feta
Cheddar Burgers with Caramelized Onions and Chipotle Ketchup
Cheese Stuffed Burgers with Scallion Paste
Chicken Burgers with Pesto
Chili Burgers
Gouda Burgers
Grilled Cheeseburgers with Onions, Jalapenos and Bacon
Grilled Pork Burgers with Mango Chutney
Grilled Portabello Burgers
Jamacian Jerk Burgers
Mexican Burgers
Pan Fried Salmon Burgers with Avocado Aioli
Salmon Burgers with Papaya Pico de Gallo
South of the Border Burger

Enjoy!

- Chef Jessica

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