Tomato Avocado Burgers (Low Carb and Gluten-Free)

August 1, 2013

Tomato Avocado Burgers

We’re talking bunless burgers over ‘ere. Wait...what? Bunless burgers? Yep, that's it, a burger sans bun.
I feel you’re already judging me. So stop right there and allow me to make an argument for bunless burger, or better yet, for THIS particular bunless burger. If I can't convince you, feel free to leave, but not before you've heard it all. Tomatoes

First off, don’t think that a burger without a bun is not a burger. The feeling of forfeit is short-lived when you come up with creative ways of filling the gap. And if the new way happens to be healthier too, then it’s a win-win situation. I’m not trying to say this bunless tomato avocado burger is better than a regular burger. It’s not.
Or maybe it is. Let’s settle this and say that it’s just different.
The bun in a burger holds everything together and soaks up the sauces and the juices. The tomato won’t do these things in the exact same way, but it brings a lot of flavor and freshness. Plus, it’s an awesome low carb and gluten-free alternative. It's also so moist and juicy. Two of the most important features in a burger.

Tomatoes roasted to perfection


I warn you, it’s not going to be super easy to eat it with your hands. Not impossible. Certainly easier than those lettuce wraps/burgers you get served all the time whenever you order a bunless burger.
I wanted to use green tomatoes but wasn’t able to find any, so I settled for regular red ones. It’s important to pick tomatoes that are a tad on the unripe side. They will release less juices, have a crunchier consistency and will hold the patty much better.
Flavor-wise and taste-wise these tomato avocado burgers are spot on. If you think that eating burgers without a bun is a reprehensible thing to do, you’ll think twice. Promise.

Tomato Avocado Burger





Tomato Avocado Burgers
                                                                                   Print this recipe! 
Adapted from CookingLight

Logistically this might not be the perfect sort of burger to eat with your hands. It’s not impossible though. It just get pretty messy. I managed to do it and it was awesome. Feel free however to eat it with knife and fork. I won’t judge you.

Ingredients
Serves 4

4 large tomatoes
1 lb / 453 gr grass fed organic ground beef
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ + ¼ teaspoons fine grain sea salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 ripe avocado, divided
2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon mayo (DIY paleo mayo following this recipe)
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
A handful alfalfa sprouts

Directions

Cut the tomatoes in half horizontally. With the handle-end of a spoon or a fork, scoop out the seeds and seeds membrane. Set aside.
Place half of the avocado in a bowl and mash with a fork until almost smooth. Add yogurt, mayo, lime juice and cumin and stir to combine. Dice remaining half of the avocado and add it alongside ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir gently to combine. Set aside.
In a bowl season ground beef with ½ teaspoon of salt, black pepper and chili powder and mix well.
Divide into equal 4 portions and gently shape each portion into ½-inch thick patty.
Preheat grill (or grill pan) to medium-high heat. Grill patties 3 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.
In the meantime, lightly grease with olive oil a medium non-stick pan/skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Cook halved tomatoes face down for 2 to 3 minutes, until they begin to brown.
Flip and cook for 20 seconds on the other side so that they get a bit of color.
To assemble burgers, place a large pinch of sprouts on the bottom part of each tomato, top with a beef patty, about 2 tablespoons of avocado sauce and finish with the other half of each tomato.

Nutrition facts

One burger yields 330 calories, 19.75 grams of fat, 13.25 grams of carbs and 26.25 grams of protein.

17 comments:

  1. That's such a great idea for a bunless burger!

    ReplyDelete
  2. That looks good, maybe try it with bell peppers?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe both! Roasted (still firm) yellow bell on the bottom. Half tomato on top. Savory and sweet bunless burger.

      Delete
  3. I like the idea of no bun. I've tried it with just lettuce leaves but this sounds even better. I couldn't see "avocado" in the ingredients list. Could it be made without and how would that change the taste/nutrition?

    ReplyDelete
  4. I looooove the colors and it sounds super yummy too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm all for bunless burgers, and this one looks too pretty to eat!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I make homemade raw (dehydrated) flat bread by combining water, nuts, seeds, garlic, sea salt & pepper and then use that as my bread for everything. I have been off grains for almost a year now. My health is coming back. Have lost 70 pounds without trying. And truly have been amazed how much I have been able to rebalance my body with the right foods. Have used the lettuce idea before found that messy and boring. Large Portabella mushrooms sauteed with onion are also good but a lil messy. Welcome this idea for a change. Thank you for posting...will definitely try.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I made them and the burger was great. Hard to eat but good, good, good!

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's probably extremely tasty, but it must be messy as hell.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just curious, do you throw away the tomato seeds? It says set aside but doesn't say for what?

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think they mean set aside the tomatoes



    ReplyDelete
  11. You could cut the fat content down more if you don't mix the yogurt and mayo in with the avocado. Still yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's so funny because I just read the ingredients and I too, didn't see the avocado! I totally missed it, don't know how but I did! Totally going to make this with a handful of cilantro instead of sprouts and some jicama strips on the side!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wonderful Idea! How about roma tomatoes...two bite size...just make burgers to fit.
    Also, adding goat cheese in the bottom half of "tomato" bun cavity and the sprouts or micro greens on top of the burger in the cavity. liking this idea a lot. I pickle lotus root to put in my lettuce wraps and on "sandwiches" which would give you a "pickle" for your hamburger

    Anne

    ReplyDelete