These juicy, flavorful burgers are the ultimate in grill-out satisfaction. (Hint: there’s bacon in there!)
Make the salsa ahead of time to allow the flavors to combine and bloom, then grill the burgers just before serving. And don’t forget the gluten-free buns! (Full disclosure: I usually eat mine wrapped in butter lettuce leaves for an extra boost of iron.)
What I love most about this salsa topping is the addition of superfood avocados! Avocados are one of my favorite foods: they’ve got a wonderful creamy texture, combined with vitamins, antioxidants, and healthy omega-3 fatty acids that can benefit your heart, brain, and more! This is also one piece of produce that you don’t have to buy organic, as it’s rated the #1 cleanest food by the non-profit Environmental Working Group.
The key to getting the very best burgers here is to use grass-fed ground beef, free of hormones and antibiotics. Clean, lean protein is a vital part of a healthy diet, and the added toxins in factory-farmed meat can cause weight gain, fertility issues, and an increased risk of serious disease. (Find out more here: A Dozen Great Foods for Clean, Lean Protein.)
It’s also important that your beef come from cows who are never fed corn, gluten, or soy. “You are what you eat!” The inflammation those ingredients cause easily carries over to you, resulting in symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, joint pain, stubborn weight gain, skin issues, mood swings, and digestive trouble. If any of that sounds familiar, it’s essential that you eat clean, lean protein and find out which food intolerances are affecting you.
With a little smart shopping and some very simple prep, you’re on your way to an amazing backyard barbecue! These juicy, delicious burgers go beautifully with BBQ Glazed Chicken, vibrant Cucumber and Radish Salad, and fruity Blueberry Sorbet to finish off your summertime feast.
Tex-Mex Burgers with Avocado Salsa
Beef, Pork & Lamb, Salads, Wraps & Sandwiches
July 22, 2016
Virgin Diet compliant: Cycles 1, 2, and 3
Sugar Impact Diet compliant: Cycles 1, 2, and 3
- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Yields: 4 servings; makes 1 1/2 cups salsa
Ingredients
Salsa
1 avocado, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 plum tomato, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/2 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 small jalapeño pepper, finely chopped
3 tbsp finely chopped red onion
Burgers
1 lb grass-fed lean ground beef
2 slices nitrate-free bacon, cooked crisp and coarsely chopped
Directions
1Combine the avocado, tomato, bell pepper, jalapeño, onion, basil, lime juice, and salt in a medium bowl. Cover and set aside.
2Prepare a grill for direct high heat.
3Gently combine the beef, bacon, cumin, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
4Working the mixture as little as possible, form it into four ½-inch-thick patties.
5Make a small indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb. (This helps them cook evenly when they naturally puff up on the grill.)
6Place the burgers on the grill, close the lid, and cook for 4 minutes per side for medium, or to desired doneness.
7Remove from the grill; place each burger on a lettuce leaf and top with the salsa.
This recipe is part of the Backyard BBQ menu, with BBQ Glazed Chicken, Tex-Mex Burgers with Avocado Salsa, Cucumber & Radish Salad, and Blueberry Sorbet. Check out the Backyard BBQ Menu and Guide for links to all the recipes, plus more handy tips and activities for the best backyard BBQ ever!
Originally published in The Virgin Diet Cookbook, Grand Central Life & Style, 2014
For more healthy, tasty recipes go to jjvirgin.com/recipes.
Nutrition Facts
The omega-3s naturally found in recipes like Tex-Mex Burgers with Avocado Salsa can help combat the effects of stress, fight inflammation, and support your brain and heart health. Want to boost your omega-3 intake even higher? Check out Omega Plus for superior omega-3 firepower!
