Whataburger-Inspired Burger & Sweet Potato Fries

I. Love. Burgers.

I think this is pretty unanimous among most Americans. Everyone has their own personal anecdote when they can imagine a certain food and how it made them feel during a certain point in time.

When I was in elementary school I was addicted to a little burger joint in my hometown called "Dippity's". Keep in mind that my mom was also a dietitian and a wonderful cook; however, once a week my mom would order me one of these burgers "plain and dry" while hauling me around to one of my many extracurricular activities. I don't know how they didn't make me sick while running around, but they were awesome!

Now, as an adult who can no longer eat a big fluffy bun, I was encouraged by these memories to create a yummy burger (sans bun). This burger was inspired by Whataburger (a Texas way of life). They recently came out with some sort of "Monterrey Melt" that has bell peppers, onions, cheese, inflammation.. the works! I have tweaked it in a way that makes it not only incredibly anti-inflammatory, but also insanely delicious!

(My family still eats the bun!)

.. And what is a burger without fries? Obviously, it's still a burger! But indulging in some savory, salty, crispy fries doesn't have to be a thing of the past! Sweet potatoes are GREAT alternatives to regular potatoes because:

1. They are not gluten cross-reactive. (aka: your body might confuse white potatoes for gluten since they have similar protein structures, but sweet potatoes do not.) (1)

2. They do not have as high of a glycemic index as white potatoes

3. Considered more "anti-inflammatory" than the white potato.

For the Burger:

Ingredients:

- 1 lb grass-fed ground meat

- 1 tsp Salt, Pepper

- 1/2 tsp onion powder,

- 1 tbsp Olive Oil

Directions:

Put burger meat in a bowl & mix with salt, pepper, onion powder, & olive oil. Portion into 4 burger patties. Bake at 400F for 25-30 minutes, or until desired level of done-ness. You can also grill these bad boys!

Burger Toppings:

Ingredients:

- 1 pkg uncured bacon

- 1 Onion (diced)

- 1 Bell Pepper (chopped) (omit if you don't tolerate nightshades)

- 1-2 Small Avocados

Directions:

Cut bacon into small chunks and cook on stove at medium-low heat until crispy. Remove from stove and put on some paper towels to absorb the grease.

Add onions & bell peppers to cook on the stove top in the bacon grease at medium-low heat until cooked thoroughly (5 minutes).

Combine bacon, onion, & bell pepper mixture. Add on top of cooked burgers with a few slices of avocados.

Sweet Potato Fries:

Ingredients:

- 2 large sweet potatoes

- 1-2 tsp Olive Oil

- Salt & Pepper

- Garlic Powder

Scrub sweet potatoes really well, and remove skin if desired (I usually don't, though). Cut fries into 1/4 inch thick & soak in a water bath for about 30-60 minutes. This helps maximize crispiness!

Dry your sweet potato fries well and coat with 1-2 tsp olive oil max! Make sure you distribute the oil evenly.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread out your sweet potato fries without having them touch or be on top of each other. Bake at 400F for 30-40 minutes & then turn them over for another 10 minutes or until they are at your desired level of crispiness.

Season with salt, pepper, & garlic powder & enjoy.

If you need help coming up with some great, healthy meal options for you and your family. Email me at TheFunctionalRD@gmail.com to set up a time to talk.