'Tis the summer season for grilled, juicy burgers and dinner out on the back porch.
Well, unfortunately, we don't have a back porch. Or a decent grill. So when it came time to make burgers this week, I pulled out my trusty old cast iron grill pan, set it on my stovetop to heat up, and proceeded to set the kitchen table.
That magnificent grill and picture-perfect patio would have to wait yet another year.
Well, unfortunately, we don't have a back porch. Or a decent grill. So when it came time to make burgers this week, I pulled out my trusty old cast iron grill pan, set it on my stovetop to heat up, and proceeded to set the kitchen table.
That magnificent grill and picture-perfect patio would have to wait yet another year.
The truth is I wasn't much in the mood for burgers, but that's what was up next on my menu plan. And since ground beef was what I had set to thaw overnight in the fridge, there was no getting around stovetop burgers at our kitchen table that night.
As I was setting that table, I tried not to think about how boring dinner was going to be and how much I was just not in the mood for burgers. In fact, I tried not to think about how much I wanted to go out for dinner instead. Because when you don't have the time, budget, or even the energy to eat out, it's not worth dwelling on, right?
My husband had wrapped up work and come in hungry. My one-year-old was pulling at my pant leg desperate for a morsel. So burgers or no burgers, we were going to eat.
I recalled a recipe I had come across for spinach burgers, so I added a couple handfuls of raw spinach to my ground beef. It needed something else, though. Some jalapenos, maybe? Still, it was missing something.
That's when I reached for my dried herbs. And you know what? Those burgers set to grill on my stovetop started to look pretty darn good.
As I was setting that table, I tried not to think about how boring dinner was going to be and how much I was just not in the mood for burgers. In fact, I tried not to think about how much I wanted to go out for dinner instead. Because when you don't have the time, budget, or even the energy to eat out, it's not worth dwelling on, right?
My husband had wrapped up work and come in hungry. My one-year-old was pulling at my pant leg desperate for a morsel. So burgers or no burgers, we were going to eat.
I recalled a recipe I had come across for spinach burgers, so I added a couple handfuls of raw spinach to my ground beef. It needed something else, though. Some jalapenos, maybe? Still, it was missing something.
That's when I reached for my dried herbs. And you know what? Those burgers set to grill on my stovetop started to look pretty darn good.
Silly how just a little bit of green could change my mind about dinner. That's the beauty of herbs, though. For most meals, I can throw in a teaspoon here and a tablespoon there, and I've effortlessly enhanced the nutritional value and appeal of my plate.
So, next time you find yourself pouting about what's for dinner, go on and give those dried herbs a try. Our plates might have looked rather boring that night, but those herb and spinach burgers were quite satisfying.
So, next time you find yourself pouting about what's for dinner, go on and give those dried herbs a try. Our plates might have looked rather boring that night, but those herb and spinach burgers were quite satisfying.
Spicy Herb and Spinach Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef, preferably grass-fed
- 2 handfuls of spinach, chopped
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 jalapenos, minced
- 2 t. cayenne pepper
- 1-2 T. dried herbs (I used a combination of alfalfa, dandelion, and holy basil)
- 1 egg, preferably pasture-raised
- 1 t. sea salt
- 1/2 t. freshly-ground black pepper
Instructions
1. Prepare grill or heat a grill pan; meanwhile, mix all ingredients together.2. Form into burgers and grill burgers according to preference.3. Serve each burger on a homemade bun or bed of rice. Enjoy!
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 4-5 burgers 
This recipe has been shared at: Modest Monday, Natural Living Monday, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Better Mom Mondays, Recipe Sharing Monday, Make Your Own Monday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Welcome Home Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesday, Works For Me Wednesday, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Party Wave Wednesday.
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