With the warm weather starting to hit, I don't know about you but I really start getting the major urge to have a good, juicy burger. So when Kevan suggested that we make our own last week, I was DOWN for the task of finding a way to fit it into my healthy meal plan.
Don't get me wrong, I'm ALL about indulging in the occasional burger, because, let's be honest, Chicago is home to some of the BEST I've ever had, but I was excited to tickle my recipe brain again and see if I could whip up something delicious and that feels indulgent but is actually super healthy!
And I have to say, I'm pretty freaking proud of what I came up with. And it fit completely into my whole foods portion control meal plan that I've been following this month!
BURGERS FOR THE WIN
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients
100% Grass fed beef, 1 pound
Whole wheat burger buns (or you could use lettuce!)
2 small Zucchinis
1/2 Spanish Onion
Whole Wheat panko bread crumbs (normal bread crumbs work just fine too!)
Egg whites
1 tbsp Garlic Powder
Italian seasoning (optional)
Sea salt
Pepper
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 F and get cover two cookie sheets with aluminum foil
2. Cut zucchini in "fry like" shape and chop onion in half and separate into rings.
3. In bowl, mix together the Bread crumbs, Garlic powder and Italian seasoning. In separate bowl, place 4 egg whites.
4. Dip each zucchini fry and onion ring in the egg whites. Then, place in the bread crumb mixture, making sure to thoroughly coat before placing on the cookie sheets.
5. Once all of them are coated with bread crumbs, place in the oven for 20-25 minutes (or until browned and crunchy)
6. While the veggies are baking, mix the ground beef with salt and pepper, to taste, before forming them into patties.
7. About 5 minutes before the fries are ready to come out, start cooking the patties on a heated and oiled cast iron skillet (about 30 seconds per side, if the heat is right) -- also DELICIOUS grilled!
8. Serve on a toasted whole wheat bun (or using a big lettuce leaf as the "bun" if you've had your daily carbohydrates earlier in the day) add mustard, veggies if you like, pickles if you're like me and you're good to go!!!!!!
For my Fixers (per serving): 2 Yellow (if you're using the bun), 1 Red, 1.5 Green
A delicious alternative to "fast food", am I right?
And the BEST PART? All of this cost $6!!!!!!!!!!!! For 4 WHOLE ENTIRE MEALS. Whoever said eating healthy (and deliciously) cost more money than eating out/fast food is a liar I tell you, a LIAR!!!!