Mouthwatering Mushroom Cheeseburgers - Healthy Style

Who said burgers are bad for you? Well, who ever it was, was wrong, well at least with these burgers. The reason they're healthy(-er): vegetables. 

I love sneaking veggies into things meaty to make them all that much better for you. Plus filled with a pile of creamy (made with just a dash of sour cream) mushrooms and onions, these are saucy, naughty, delicious, but still nutritious. Just be sure to serve with a salad as well.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

• 600grams of beef mince
• 1 large zucchini, grated
• 1 large carrot, grated
• salt and pepper 
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 6 - 8 button mushrooms, sliced
• 3 tbsp worcestershire sauce 
• 3 tbsp of sour cream 
• 6 slices of cheddar cheese (edam, tasty colby etc) 
• gherkins (enough for 6 burgers) 
• mayonnaise 
• bbq (or tomato) sauce*
• 6 good quality buns - I used ciabatta buns, baps or turkish bread pockets would also work well 
• oven roasted potato chips to serve (optional) 
• salad greens to serve

Method: 

Preheat oven to 220c and line a tray with greaseproof paper**. I prefer to cook my burger patties in the oven, it makes it easier, no worry about burning, sticking, or falling apart. Just put them in and leave them be. 

In a large bowl mix grated zucchini, carrot, mince, egg and a generous amount of salt and pepper. Get your hands in there to mix it really well. Form meat into 6 evenly sized patties and place them evenly on the baking tray. Bake for 20 - 30 minutes till cooked through, flipping once. 

Meanwhile, heat oil in a frying pan over a low heat, slowly cook onions and garlic until beginning to soften. Next add the mushrooms and continue cooking for five more minutes, till mushrooms are cooked down. Add worcestershire sauce and sour cream, stir till combined and remove from heat. 

Check the patties and place a slice of cheese on top of each for the last few minutes of cooking. 

Cut buns open and spread bbq sauce on the bottom and a little mayo on the top. Place the meat patty with cheese on top of the bbq sauce, add a dollop of the creamy mushrooms, a couple of gherkins, then put the top on the bun. 

Serve with a side green salad and maybe some oven roasted chips. 

*  If you're feeling creative try my homemade BBQ sauce recipe 

** Greaseproof paper is optional, but it makes clean up so much easier.