A burger is one of the foods that I always thought could not have anything exceptional about it. It is a cooked piece of minced meat placed between buns with some condiments and sauces. There is only so much that one can do with a burger. But that was before I had some really awesome burgers in a few restaurants. And it started to tickle my imagination on what all I could do with it. Of course, the first thought for me was - can I make it healthy..... followed by - what are the other ways to make it more flavorful while keeping it juicy and moist.

So I started reading up a lot on the best burgers that one could make. Most of them recommended using good quality meat with some fat in it. That was the time when I was exploring using lean beef for my burgers. You see, I would rather use lean beef and add an egg to it instead of using the meat that comes with a lot of fat. I prefer to avoid the fat that comes with the meat so that I can decide how much of and what kind of fat I add to the food I prepare. There were a few things that were clear to me .... firstly I need multiple kinds of flavor in the meat. Secondly, I will need to add something to lean meat to keep it moist.

For the first one, I just looked up all the seasonings I had in the pantry and picked those that seemed to go well with beef. I chose a combination of Steak seasoning and Old Bay seasoning that are pre-packaged, ready to use. I also decided to add sauteed onions, garlic and thyme to add more flavor to the meat. For the moisture, I used an egg in the beef mixture. The end result was fantastic. The burger was flavorful from the seasonings and cooked onions and garlic. The egg gave the burger the moisture and helped to bind the meat nicely.

To make fries, I just cut the peeled potatoes into the desired shape and blanch them in salted boiling water for about 2-3 minutes. This makes them slightly soft and they cook nicely on the outside in the oven - becoming crisp while the inside is still soft. The salt added to the water makes the fries salted all the way to the center. I like to sprinkle the cooked fries with some piri-piri spice mix. Adds a nice kick to the fries and my kids absolutely love it!

For the condiments, I use mustard, pickles, low fat cheese and instead of mayonnaise, I prefer to use guacamole. It gives a great flavor to the burger, keeps it moist and is all good fat - another example of how clean eating can be easier than we think. My husband and I have switched to low carb burgers for a while now so I substitute the bun with salad leaves that are big enough to hold the patty, sauces and the condiments. Its really hearty and enjoyable!

Burger:

Ingredients:

1 lb Lean minced beef

1 medium onion (finely chopped)

2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)

1/2 tsp fresh thyme or 1/4 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning

1 tsp Steak Seasoning

2 tsp worcestershire sauce

1 egg

1 tsp oil

salt & pepper to taste

Condiments:

Guacamole

Mustard

Dill pickles

Jalapenos (optional)

Sliced onions

Sliced tomatoes

Large Salad leaves / burger buns

Method:

1. Place a non-stick pan over medium heat and add the chopped onions, garlic and thyme and cook till the onions are soft - about 5-7 minutes over medium low heat. Sprinkle a pinch of salt to add some more flavor to this.

2. When the mixture is cooled, combine all other ingredients in a bowl and mix lightly. Ensure you do not overmix or the meat will become tough. Once everything is well blended, form into patties.

3. Heat a grill/pan over medium high heat and place the patties on it. Cook for 2-3 minutes on both sides. once the patties are done, lower the heat and put sliced onion rounds on the pan for them to soften a little. Sprinkle some salt on the onions as you cook to make them tender.

To assemble the burgers, layer the cooked patty and condiments on bun/salad leaves. Package with grease proof paper and use a toothpick to hold it together. Enjoy!

Oven roasted fries:

Peel and cut the potatoes into the fries' shape. Blanch them in salted boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Drain them and set aside to dry up. Sprinkle the potatoes with salt, pepper and 2 tsp olive oil. Rub the seasonings and oil well over the potatoes and place in a preheated oven at 180C for 10-15 minutes. This may take longer based on the size of the potatoes and the type of potatoes. Ensure you place the fries on a mesh cooking sheet. This helps to brown the fries nicely. Once the potatoes are lightly browned on the outside and cooked on the inside, remove from the oven and sprinkle some piri piri spice mix to taste. Serve with your favorite burgers, sandwiches or just as a snack on their own.