Splurge or Save on These Summer Burgers

May 27, 2013 — -- intro: Juicy burgers are a staple of summer cuisine. Topped with cheese or bacon, they can often add unwanted calories to your daily diet.

We've collected some of our favorite splurge-worthy and diet-friendly burger recipes. Can you guess which burger is which?

quicklist:1category: marX Restauranttitle: The Southwestern Burger vs. the Salmon Burgerurl: text: One burger packs 1,322 calories while the other has 656. Click to see which is the splurge and which is the save.media: 16852822 related:

quicklist:2category: marX Restauranttitle: Splurge: Southwestern Burger (1,322 calories)url: text: This spicy cheese and avocado burger on a brioche bun is a burger completely worth the splurge.

8 oz grass-fed sirloin
4 oz spicy pepper-jack cheese
2 pcs romaine lettuce
2 slices tomato
1 tsp chipotle ketchup
2 tsp pico de gallo
1/2 avocado
4 oz brioche bun

After grilling, top the sirloin patty with cheese. Place on brioche bun. Garnish with lettuce, tomato, ketchup, pico de gallo and avocado.

Recipe courtesy marX Restaurant.media: 16852739 related:

quicklist:3category: marX Restauranttitle: Save: Salmon Burger (656 calories)url: text: Lightly breaded and fresh, this salmon burger is healthful and satisfying.

6 oz Scottish salmon patty
1/8 cup red bell pepper
1/8 cup yellow bell pepper
1/8 cup green bell pepper
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 oz whole wheat bun

Combine the salmon patty with the peppers, bread crumbs, soy sauce and lemon juice. Grill the patty and place on a whole wheat bun.

*Opt out of the dill aioli to save an additional 200-300 calories.
Recipe courtesy marX Restaurant.media: 16852793 related:

quicklist:4category: David Burke at Bloomingdalestitle: Juicy Burkey vs. Veggie Burgerurl: text: One burger 450 calories while the other fetches 1,256 calories. Click to see which one is the splurge and which is the save.media: 16852893 related:

quicklist:5category: David Burke at Bloomingdalestitle: Splurge: The Double Juicy Burkey Burger (1,256 calories)url: text: This double burger is not for the faint of heart. Make sure you're nice and hungry before biting into this one.

10 oz Black Angus ground beef
2 sliced cheddar cheese
2 oz caramelized onion
2 oz bacon
Salt and pepper
1 brioche bun

Sliced one medium white onion in a small sauté pan with medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, add onions cooked down until golden brown, about 15 minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cool it down

For the burger :Divide the ground beef into 5 oz patties, press it down and add one sliced of cheese, then onion and bacon pieces. Add one more slice of cheese on top, close the burger. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a griddle , sear the burger on both sides, cook it in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes on one side, then on the other side for 5 more minutes. Remove from the oven, let it rest for 10 minutes so the blood doesn't run out all over. Serve with a brioche bun and some fries.

Recipe courtesy David Burke at Bloomingdales.media: 16852919 related:

quicklist:6category: db Bloomingdalestitle: Save: The Veggie Burger (450 calories)url: text: db Bloomingdales creates their homemade veggie burgers with chickpeas, beans, spinach, garlic and onions. Panko bread crumbs hold the mixture together.

Place your favorite veggie burger on a whole wheat bun and top with fresh veggies.

Recipe courtesy David Burke at Bloomingdales.media: 16852908 related:

quicklist:7category: Burger & Barreltitle: The Bash Burger vs. The Veggieurl: text: One burger has 905 calories while the other has 404 calories. Click to see which burger is the splurge and which is the save.media: 16852958 related:

quicklist:8category: Burger & Barreltitle: Splurge: The Bash Burger (905 calories)url: text: Bacon jam? Special sauce? This burger is something we'd like to splurge on every day.

6 six-ounce burger patties
6 teaspoons Dijon mustard
6 Soft Brioche Buns
1 cup special sauce (recipe below)
1 cup bacon jam
2 kosher dill pickles, sliced thinly
Black pepper
Salt

For the jam:
12 strips thick-sliced bacon
4 Spanish onions, cut in half, dice
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 sprig of thyme
Salt
Pepper
Canola oil

For the sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise
¾ cup ketchup
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
½ tablespoon sriracha
Salt
White pepper

Season patties generously with salt and pepper. Put burgers on the grill and add one teaspoon Dijon mustard on pattie while grilling. Grill burgers to desired temperature. While burgers are cooking, toast brioche buns. Dress both sides of bun with 1 tablespoon special sauce. Melt American cheese on top of burgers. Dollop warm bacon jam on top of burgers. Slice in half and serve.

For the jam:
Cut bacon into ¼ inch lardons, and render over low heat with a ¼ cup of water for 20-25 minutes, or until bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon and place on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess grease. Reserve the fat for cooking the onions. Cut onions into ½ inch dice, and sweat over low heat in a medium saucepan with 2 tablespoons bacon fat and 1 tablespoon canola oil for 20-25 minutes, until onions are translucent and lightly caramelized. Remove onions from pan and reserve for later use. In a food processor, pulse bacon lardons until they reach a course consistency. Fold chopped bacon into caramelized onions, add white wine vinegar and steep 1 sprig of thyme in bacon jam. Season to taste after preparing bacon jam as the bacon will lend a good amount of saltiness to the jam. Remove thyme when reheating.

For the sauce:
Blend all ingredients in a food processor, season to taste and reserve for serving.

Recipe courtesy Burger and Barrel.media: 16852944 related:

quicklist:9category: Burger & Barreltitle: Save: Veggie Burger (404 calories)url: text: This chickpea burger puts the boxed veggie burgers to shame. Slather some homemade tzatziki on the patty for a cool flavor combo.

3 pounds chickpeas
1 carrot
1 onion
2 celery stalk
6 garlic cloves
9 oz onion
6 oz carrot
6 oz celery
3 pc garlic
1 oz parsley
6 oz flour
3 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon oregano, dried
1 teaspoon basil, dried
1 teaspoon chili flakes
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
3 teaspoons salt
6 eggs

For the tzatziki sauce:
1 lg cucumber, small dice
½ red onion, small dice
1oz dill sprigs, fine chop
6 oz sour cream
8 oz yoghurt
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch black pepper
1 lemon juiced

For the veggie burger:
Soak 3# chickpeas in water overnight. Drain chickpeas in china cap to remove any extra water. Place chickpeas in large pot and cover with fresh cold water. Add carrot, onion, celery and garlic cloves to chickpeas. Bring to boil and stir every 5 minutes until soft. Remove from liquid and let cool at room temperature. Remove carrot, onion and celery but leave garlic. In food processor, blend 9 oz. onion, 6 oz. carrots, 6 oz. celery, 3 pcs. garlic and 1 oz parsley with cooked chickpeas in batches. Make sure NOT to blend completely smooth. Add rest of ingredients and mix well. Form into 5 oz. patties or roll into balls. Best when made the day before.
For the tzatziki:
Mix All ingredients and adjust seasoning

Recipe courtesy Burger and Barrel.media: 16852933 related:

quicklist:10category: bareburger title: The Supreme vs. Mediterraneanurl: text: One burger 930 calories while the other has 597. Click to see which burger is the splurge and which is the save.media: 16853022 related:

quicklist:11category: bareburger title: Splurge: Bareburger Supreme (930 calories)url: text: Say the word "bacon" and "burger" in the same sentence and we'll come running. Top it with french fries and onion rings and we'll start sprinting.

Colby jack
onion rings
maple bacon
lettuce
chopped french fries
ground beef

Grill your burger and add the colby jack cheese. Top with maple bacon, onion rings, lettuce and chopped french fries.

Recipe courtesy bareburger.media: 16853114 related:

quicklist:12category: bareburger title: Save: Mediterranean (597 calories)url: text: This Mediterranean burger is a wrapped in lettuce so you don't have to worry about those pesky carbs.

cucumber-mint yogurt
lettuce
cucumber
tomato
apple smoked onions
ground lamb
iceberg lettuce wrap

Cook the ground lamb burger. Top with cucumber-mint yogurt and vegetables. Wrap in iceberg lettuce.

Recipe courtesy bareburger.media: 16853045 related:

quicklist:13category: BLT Burgertitle: Maytag vs. Turkey burgerurl: text: One burger boasts 808 calories while the other has 500. Can you guess which is the splurge and which is the save?media: 16741044 related:

quicklist:14category: BLT Burgertitle: Splurge: Maytag Blue Burger (808 calories)url: text: Red wine mushrooms and caramelized onions put this blue cheese burger in a league of its own.

6 oz. beef patty
Maytag Blue Cheese
1/2 lb sliced onion
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon shallot chopped
1 tablespoon garlic chopped
2 quart sliced button mushroom
1 cup Madeira wine (deglaze)
Brioche bun

Caramelize sliced onions in a pot until chestnut brown (DO NOT BURN). When the onions are 75% caramelized, add the sugar and balsamic vinegar and reduce until syrupy. For the Madeira mushrooms: Sauté shallots, garlic and mushrooms until the mushrooms start to caramelize. Deglaze with the Madeira wine and cook down until the mushrooms are glazed but not dry.

Place the cooked beef patty on a brioche bun with blue cheese, caramelized onions and mushrooms.

Recipe courtesy BLT burger.media: 16741012 related:

quicklist:15category: BLT Burgertitle: Save: Turkey Burger (500 calories)url: text: BLT burger's ground turkey burger is seasoned with onion powder, garlic powder, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Apple, fennel and onions are mixed into the patty for additional flavor. Use the herb mayo recipe below to top your burger.
2 egg yolks
¼ cup Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons chopped garlic
6 oz lemon juice, strained
24 oz grape seed or blended oil
2 tablespoon salt
3/4 cup parsley (tightly packed)
3/4 cup cilantro (tightly packed)
3/4 cup tarragon (tightly packed)

Procedure: In a food processor combine the egg yolks, Dijon mustard, garlic, lemon juice and salt and start processing. Slowly drizzle in the grape seed oil until emulsified. Place the mayo into a bowl. Finely chop the herbs and fold them into the mayo.

Recipe courtesy BLT burger.media: 16741054 related:

quicklist:16category: DBGBtitle: The Yankee vs. the Piggieurl: text: One burger boasts 1,200 calories while the other has 900. Can you guess which is the splurge and which is the save?media: 16863459 related:

quicklist:17category: DBGBtitle: Splurge: The Piggie (1,200 calories)url: text: This splurge-worthy sandwich from DBGB is the perfect combination of pulled pork sandwich meets ultimate burger.

ground beef
bbq pulled pork
jalapeno mayonnaise
coleslaw
brioche bun

Grill your burger and top it with spicy mayonnaise. Place coleslaw on the bun and then top with the burger and pulled pork.

Recipe courtesy DBGB.media: 16863523 related:

quicklist:18category: DBGBtitle: Save: The Yankee (900 calories)url: text: Who ever thought a cheddar cheese and bacon burger would be the wiser choice?

ground beef
bacon
cheddar cheese
tomato
lettuce
brioche bun

Grill the burger and top with cheddar cheese. Place on the brioche bun and add bacon. Top with tomato and lettuce.

Recipe courtesy DBGB.media: 16863472 related: