Dear Sneaky Chef,

Can I turn magic meatballs recipe into small hamburger

patties and how long should I bake them in oven and on what

temperature?  My kid likes the taste of the magic meatballs but I want to shake it up a bit and make easier for me.

Dear Carol,

Turning them into hamburgers should be fine. I also have a recipe for Hamburger Stuffed Potatoes and Mexican Hamburgers in my latest book, and Bonus Burgers from first book. Here's the recipe for Bonus Burgers: it should get you off to a good start : )

 

In this version of the traditional hamburger, we managed to sneak in a full teaspoon of nutrient-packed pureed blueberries and spinach per ounce of beef. The familiar taste of ketchup helps to override any detectable foreign flavors, and I have yet to find anyone who noticed anything unusual about this burger. If you’re adding the optional chickpeas, you will boost the fiber and vitamin content and ensure that all the saturated fat of the meat is quickly escorted out of the body.

 

Makes 8-10 burgers

1 pound lean ground beef

1 large egg

¼ cup Purple Puree (see Make Ahead Recipe #1)

3 tablespoons ketchup

1 teaspoon salt

¼ cup fresh whole wheat bread crumbs*

8-10 American cheese slices (optional)

8-10 hamburger buns or English muffins (preferably whole grain)

Pickle slices and ketchup to garnish

Optional extra boost: 2 teaspoons Chickpea Puree (see Make Ahead Recipe #10)

 

In a large bowl, mix egg, Purple Puree, ketchup, salt and bread crumbs. Then add the ground beef, mixing with hands until well combined. If too sticky, add a few more bread crumbs.

 

Using damp hands, shape mixture into 8 to 10 patties that are fairly thin. Up to this point, the burgers may be prepared a day ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator. If you are not freezing for future use, proceed to next steps.

 

Spray a large skillet or grill pan with non-stick cooking spray and set over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Cook the burgers for 3 minutes on each side then flip and add cheese (if using) to melt over patties for another 3 minutes.

 

Serve on fresh, soft burger buns or English muffins with ketchup and pickles.

 

*Whole wheat bread crumbs can be found in natural and organic food stores, but you can easily make your own by pulsing whole grain bread in a food processor to achieve fine crumbs. It’s that simple. Three slices of bread yields about one cup of fresh crumbs. They keep for months in a sealed bag in the freezer.

 

A great use for leftover burgers: Undercover Crispy Ravioli, page __.

 

Sneaky Tip: High heat from grilling can react with protein in meat, poultry and fish to create cancer causing chemicals HCAs and PAHs. Adding blueberries or cherries to the meat before cooking has been found to significantly reduce this risk.