I recently had some friends over for a dinner party. There was myself and another guest who (try!) and eat clean and eat a mainly a Paleo lifestyle so I wanted to cater for us. However, I'm a big believer in not forcing other people to eat a certain way, they should chose to eat healthy themselves and need to be in the right mindset. Saying that, you can give as much advice, encouragement and knowledge to them but do not force others for your benefit. They will come to it when they are ready.
Anyway this idea of a Burger Bar came to me and I realised it would be ideal to suit all tastes and requirements and no one would miss out on the flavour stakes.
I made home-made burgers (recipe below) and then set out a selection of toppings. This gave people the power to chose the toppings they desired and didn't force anybody on a particular diet to eat something that didn't agree with them.
Options for the Burger Bar I included were:
Ketchup
Mustard
Peppercorn Sauce
Gherkins
Tomatoes
Chopped Red Onion
Sliced Cheddar
Brie
Diced Bacon
Shredded Lettuce
Salami
I also set out 2 types of buns, made sweet potato wedges (recipe here), did a salad of rocket and sun-dried tomatoes and my red cabbage and apple salad, recipe here.
It went down an absolute treat and everyone was satisfied and happy...we also served lots of booze but let's pretend that it was all about the food!
It was also a nice sociable meal as people felt involved and chatted as they passed various toppings and accompaniments. It also meant people could eat as much or as little as they chose, they were always in control.
For dessert I served my Paleo chocolate mousse, recipe here, and again the non-paleo guests were very happy. 'A revelation' one guest said!
Ingredients:
(This makes about 6 generous burgers)
400g of minced Beef (I use Organic lean beef)
2 eggs (Organic and Free Range)
3 cloves of grated/pressed garlic (Organic)
2 teaspoons of Smoked Paprika
2 teaspoons of Cumin
1 teaspoon of Ginger
(feel free to experiment with different spices)
5 heaped tablespoons of Ground Almonds (Paleo) or Ground Oats (eating clean)
Salt and pepper to taste.
Method:
Mix everything together in a bowl until it starts to bind. Add more Almonds/Oats if you feel the mixture isn't holding together.
Using clean hands mold the mixture into burger shapes, depending on the size you require. I often make these and cook some fresh and freeze others uncooked, ready for the next time you want burgers and are in a rush!
Once they are molded you can fry or grill them until cooked to your liking. Be gentle with them as they may fall apart easily.
Small one for me, large for my husband...surprise surprise!
Prep time:
5-10 minutes
Dietary Information:
Paleo
Gluten Free
Wheat Free
Sugar Free
High in Omega 3 (If you use grassfed Organic beef)
Garlic is antibacterial and antiviral so excellent for fighting colds and flu.
High in protein
Low in carbohydrate
Eggs are full of protein, high in vitamins and minerals and great for your hair, skin and nails.
Ginger is good for digestion issues, nausea, natural anti-inflammatory and boosts the immune system.
Cumin aids digestion, lowers blood sugar and prevents hypoglycaemia (excellent for people with diabetes), fights viral infections, rich in Iron and many other benefits you can read here.
Paprika is high in Vitamin A, E and Iron. It also has anti ageing properties, prevents hair loss and promotes sound sleep.
Storage Instructions:
Can be frozen raw.
Serving Suggestions:
I served these with sweet potatoes (recipe HERE), salads and various toppings.
They are also great with mash, chips or on the BBQ.
They are also great with mash, chips or on the BBQ.
Enjoy!
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