So Denise and I decided to go theme-ways for this particular Monday holiday. What does the theme of “Presidents’ Day” conjure up for you? Let me tell you, I had IDEAS. Many of them were particularly complicated, some were elaborate, and my fridge is still full of ingredients I bought while over-thinking my options.
What I ended up with is in homage to our sitting leader, Barack Obama, 44th president. His love of burgers is well-documented, and our First Lady’s initiatives include promoting healthy eating partly through family time. This is a quick, easy, and healthy weeknight burger recipe that takes about 15 minutes to prepare. With sides, this will feed four. Or it will feed you for a few meals.
All-American Chicken Ranch Burgers
Makes 4 quarter pound burgers
Preheat either indoor grill, grill pan, or cast iron skillet.
- 1 lb. ground chicken
- 1 teaspoon crushed garlic (2-3 cloves)
- 2 teaspoons minced dried onion
- 1 teaspoon dill
- ½ teaspoon basil
- ½ teaspoon dried red bell pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (OPTIONAL! For those who like a kick)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 Tablespoons potato starch
Grease your hands, and then mix the spice mix into the ground chicken well. Divide into 4 balls and compact it. This is a bit squishier than, say, beef burgers, so it doesn’t form into patties as well. It seems to work best to leave it in a larger ball and then flatten it once you’ve put it on the heat — or automatically in a two-sided grill. These take about 5 minutes on a George Foreman grill, and I’m guessing about 3-4 minutes per side in a skillet over medium heat.
The two flavors of ranch dressing that these ranch burgers are missing are a hit of acid and a creaminess. So make up for both with an avocado smash. While the burgers are cooking, make your sauce/topping:
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1 lime
- pinch of salt
Smash avocado. Drizzle in a bit of the lime juice to get a guacamole-type consistency. Sprinkle on just a bit of salt.
To make up your burger, toast whatever you’re using as a bun. I used Deland Bakery’s Millet Potato Bread. If you eat gluten, surely you have a favorite. If you want a bun, Schar makes some decent ones.
To this I added:
- Daiya cheddar block, sliced very thin
- raw baby spinach, about a handful
- topped with the burger
- and then the avocado sauce
To continue the theme, maybe serve with broccoli, least favorite vegetable of our 41st president, George H.W. Bush? And jelly beans for dessert, favorite candy of our 40th president, Ronald Reagan?
Do you enjoy celebrating “minor” holidays? How?
(And if anyone tries these on a regular outdoor grill, please let me know how it works out!)