Salsa Verde Burgers with Watermelon and Basil Recipe #ASpicyPerspectiveSalsa Verde Burgers with Fontina Watermelon and Basil, vibrant twist on classic American comfort food.

Salsa Verde Burger with Fontina Watermelon and Basil
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I bet you had no idea when I posted Creamy Avocado Salsa Verde on Monday, that I was scheming behind the scenes.

It was all part of the master-plan to introduce you to this oddly intriguing hamburger.

Salsa Verde Burgers with Watermelon and Basil Recipe

We eat a lot of hamburgers. Although my hubby would gladly dine on fine cuisine anytime the opportunity arises, he’s really a burger and pizza kind of guy.

Needless to say, when your husband craves hamburgers all the time, you find ways to get creative with them. We’ve made a plethora of hamburger recipes over the years.

Our latest creation, Salsa Verde Burgers with Fontina Watermelon and Basil, is essentially a glorified cheeseburger. The patty is a simple beef patty topped with rich melty fontina cheese. All the bells and whistles are in the “fixins.”

Salsa Verde Burgers with Watermelon and Basil Recipe

Instead of using plain-jane lettuce and tomato, we decided to give basil leaves and watermelon a go.

Watermelon mimics the moist clean texture of a good slice of tomato, but offers a much sweeter bite. The delicate essence of licorice from the basil leaves, is the perfect accompaniment to the watermelon and salty cheese. Finally, creamy and zesty Salsa Verde gives the burger the necessary kick of acidity and spice to create the perfect balance of flavors.

You may ask, why watermelon? Tomatoes are so ripe and plentiful this time of year; why mess with a good thing?

If you must have a tomato on your burger, I understand. Yet, watermelon is definitely worth giving a try. Sometimes all a run-of-the-mill dinner needs, is a kick in the pants and a new ingredient.

Salsa Verde Burgers with Watermelon and Basil Recipe

How to Make Perfect Hamburger Patties:

  • Don’t overwork the meat; it will get tough. Gently toss in the seasoning, keeping the ground meat loose.
  • Use a knife to separate the meat into equal portion, so you don’t have 3 uniform burgers and one “baby” burger.
  • Press the meat into a ball, then flatten on wax paper and reform the edges.
  • MAKE A DENT IN THE CENTER. The middle of a patty tends to puff while cooking. If you don’t do this, you’ll end up with hamburger balls.
  • Make the patties slightly larger than the buns. They shrink while cooking and will end up being the same size.
  • A little pink in the center is a good thing. You don’t want to eat raw burgers, but try not to overcook the patties. Pink = Juicy!

How to Make Perfect Hamburger Patties

Serve These Burgers With:

Homemade Napa Chips

Grilled Corn with Smokey lime Mayo

Peach and Basil Salad

Provencial Style Potato Salad

Other Great Summer Burgers:

Ahi Tuna Burgers

Pineapple Chorizo Burgers

Szechuan Burgers

Greek Style Burgers

Spicy Black Bean Burger ~ Eat Live Run

Tuna Burgers ~ Sippity Sup

Salsa Verde Burgers with Watermelon and Basil Recipe
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Salsa Verde Burgers with Fontina Watermelon and Basil

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Salsa Verde Burgers with Fontina Watermelon and Basil - Summer's Best Burger!
Servings: 6 burgers

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef chuck
  • 6 slices fontina cheese
  • 6 hamburger buns
  • 6 slices watermelon
  • 12-18 leaves fresh basil (large)
  • 1 cup salsa verde
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the grill to high heat. Portion and form the ground beef into six hamburger patties, making an indentation in the centers. Salt and pepper both sides of the patties.
  • Slice the watermelon into 1/3-inch slices. Use a biscuit cutter to cut watermelon circles.
  • Grill the hamburgers for 3-5 minutes per side. Add the fontina slices to the top of each patty 1 minutes before removing from the grill. Tent with foil to keep warm.
  • Toast the buns on the grill for 30-60 seconds, until char marks form.
  • Layer the bun with 2-3 large basil leaves, a watermelon circle, the patty with cheese, and top with a large spoonful of salsa verde. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1burger, Calories: 716kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Protein: 39g, Fat: 41g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 139mg, Sodium: 814mg, Potassium: 877mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 2170IU, Vitamin C: 25.3mg, Calcium: 277mg, Iron: 5.2mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier
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