Grilling really has become me new favorite cooking method. It just makes food that much better and that much more summery. We have a big gas grill, nothing to fancy, but it gets the job done. I do however want to buy a cheap charcoal grill before grilling season is over. Charcoal is basically the flavor king of grilling. We used to have a small one way back when, but not anymore. So that is my mission the next time I go out to the store, find me an affordable charcoal grill (plus a bag of charcoal!).
The only annoying this about grilling, well I guess not too annoying, is that I have to use foil over the grills. I don't trust the cross-contamination safety and I just don't want my chicken or veggies touching the same grills a piece or beef did. (Food snob?). So I rip a large piece of foil, wipe it with come oil, and then place what ever I am cooking down on that. At least it provides easy removal since I can just lift the foil off and I don't have to worry about brushing the grills to clean it!
Anyway, I have a pretty snazzy recipe for you today. I wanted to use ground chicken again as well as re-make that lovely fennel parsnip puree I had at City Range a while back. So I went all out with the grilling, and some blending! This was my Memorial Day dinner and we did absolutely nothing that day, so I knew I had to make it special somehow. Some time spent in the kitchen always does the trick. I whipped up some grilled artichoke spinach chicken burgers and my own fennel parsnip puree with added beets for a pretty red color! Roasting, grilling, blending, it was a "hectic" but fun time. Not to mention it produced some rather delicious results 😉
Artichoke Spinach Chicken Burgers & Fennel Beet Parsnip Puree
Ingredients: (serves 4)
For the Burgers:
+ 1 lb Ground Chicken
+ ½ TB Lemon Juice + Zest from Whole Lemon
+ 1 Tsp Dried Tarragon
+ 1 Tsp Dried Basil
+ ½ Tsp Garlic Powder
+ ½ Tsp Onion Powder
+ ¼ Tsp Black Pepper
+ 5 Artichoke Hearts (½ Cup)
+ 1 ½ Cup Spinach
+ 1 Tsp Dijon Mustard
For the Puree:
+ 2 Large Beets
+ 6 Medium Parsnips
+ 1 Large Fennel Bulb
Plating Extras:
+ A Few Leaves of Fresh Basil
+ Lemon Slices (to grill)
+ Eggplant Slices (to grill)
Directions:
For the Burgers:
+ In a food processor or blender, add your spinach and artichokes. Blend until you get an almost smooth consistency, but not a total puree. You want some spinach pieces in there to stand out.
+ In a large bowl, combine the chicken along with the spinach artichoke purees, lemon juice, zest, Dijon, and all the spices. Use your hands to mix everything together very thoroughly.
+ Form 4 burger patties with you hands. Place them on an oiled piece of foil (or not) and grill for 20 minutes (10 minutes on each side). If you don't want to grill (I have no idea why) you can also cook these in the oven at 350°F for 35-40 minutes.
For the Puree:
+ Preheat oven to 425°F. Roughly chop your beets, parsnips (I didn't peel either), and fennel bulb in to large pieces for even roasting.
+ Roast for 30 minutes, remove from oven, and let cool for a few minutes. Then add everything to a food processor or large blender. Add 2 cups of water the blender slowly. You may need less, you may need more. Blend until you get a silky smooth puree.
Additional:
+ Slice a lemon and eggplant into rounds. Season the eggplant with some garlic and onion powder and some black pepper. Grill all for about 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway through, or using a George Foreman.
+ Plate some of the puree in a smooth flat mound, add 1 burger, 3 eggplant rounds, 2 lemon slices, and a few fresh basil leaves. Enjoy!
I was obsessed with this dish! So good! When my friend and I were chatting later that Memorial Day, I told him what I made for my own personal BBQ. Lets just say he was very jealous as he told me about his lowly grilled chicken breast 😛 I like to make things fancy...what can I say 😉
So tell me:
+ What did you make on Memorial Day?
+ Have you ever recreated a favorite restaurant dish?
*Recipe linking up for the week! WIAW, Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeFridays, #RecipeOfTheWeek, #StrangeButGood, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Savoring Saturdays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, #Foodie Friday, Real Food Recipe Roundup!*
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Amy | Canary Street Crafts
These look amazing! I've just spent the last half hour browsing your recipes and there are so many I want to try. I've spent the last year overhauling our eating habits to clean, whole foods. We're still a work in progress, and my biggest struggle by far is finding fast, easy, veggie-heavy dinners everyone likes. I found several options on your site I'm going to try.
I also wanted to invite you to share some of your recipes at a link party I host. It runs every Thurs-Mon. No worries if you're not interested, but if you get a chance to stop by I'd really love to see some of your recipes there!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much Amy for stopping by and browsing! Overhauling your diet is a wonderful thing and I hope I can help in every way I can! It will get easier and SOOOO delicious too 😉 Keep playing around with every whole food you can get your hands on!
And sure thing! I'll check it out! XOXO
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious
These look amazing! And such a great way to use artichokes. Adding this to my Amazing Artichoke Recipe Roundup now!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Jessica!
Alison R (@SassyMomChicago)
Thanks for linking up with #RealFoodRecipes! Can't wait to try this recipe and I'll be featuring in this week's meal plan over at Sassy Moms in the City.
Strength and Sunshine
Awesome! Thanks Alison! Glad you like it 🙂
itsemmaelise
Thanks for linking up to Manic Mondays!
♥Emma, of It’s Emma Elise
Strength and Sunshine
My pleasure!
Aubree Cherie @ Living Free
Yum! The pics are beautiful too. Thanks for sharing with Naturally Sweet Tuesday! ~Aubree
Strength and Sunshine
Thank YOU Aubree 😉
Andrea B (@goodgirlgonered)
This looks AMAZING. As in I totally want this right now. For early lunch or late breakfast. Or something. Especially the chicken burgers. Yum!
Strength and Sunshine
Haha Brunch?! Give it a go!
Pure Grace Farms
Mmmm looks delicious. Anything with fennel in m book is a winner! Would be honored if you would stop by the Wonderful Wednesday Blog hop on Tuesday, 5 pm Est and share this beautiful recipe. Blessings, Shari
http://puregracefarms.com/2014/06/wonderful-wednesday-blog-hop/
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! And sure I would live to share this 🙂
sprint2thetable
I really wish I could have a grill! Condo-living does have it's downsides. At least I have my George Foreman!
Strength and Sunshine
I have a mini George Foreman too! You can just bake these and then finish them off on the George 😉
Stephanie
Will definitely have to try this this Summer!! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!
Strength and Sunshine
Perfect for summer! Thanks!
Emily @amummytoo
That looks beautiful and a brilliant was to sneak some extra veg into my family's diet. Thanks so much for linking up with #recipeoftheweek - I've pinned and tweeted this post and there's a fresh linky going live at 6pm this evening 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
It is a great way to sneak in some extra veggie goodness! And no one will mind because it tastes phenomenal! Thanks Emily!
Kierston
Oh I love artichocke!
Strength and Sunshine
They are so yummy, yet underrated!
OrganicallyMo
This looks so so soooooooo good! 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thank you! I hope you get to give them a go!
Adelina Priddis
Oh my these sound amazing! A lot of ingredients I never would have used otherwise though. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friday
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Adelina! Its fun throwing random ingredients together and ending up with something delectable!
Ami@NaiveCookCooks
This chicken looks so flavorful! Must try!
Strength and Sunshine
It is! If you love veggies and chicken, then this is your game 😉
Honest Mum
These look like pretty, hearty little burgers. I would exchange the chicken for fish or leave out for my husband, a gorgeous summery dish! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks love 😉
Sami
I love this! It looks so good and I can't wait to give it a try! Thanks for a yummy recipe!
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Sami! Tell me if you do! 😉
kelsnsher
Oh my goodness these look delicious!! Also I love your header 🙂 Thanks for linkin up girl!
Strength and Sunshine
O well, double thank you! XOXO
OneMotherofaDay
This dish looks good! It’s Paleo too so an extra win for me!!
Strength and Sunshine
Your right, it is! Totally unintentional 😉
cottercrunch
i'll make you a deal, i'll make dessert if you make these. cool? YUM!
Strength and Sunshine
Haha sounds perfect to me! I would gladly make this for you 😉
Regan Jones (@ReganJonesRD)
Beets and parsnips are two of my faves. Love that you're using them together 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
I love parsnip mash and knew I want to add some color, so beautiful beets it was!
Leslie @ florafoodie
What a beautiful plate! I’m vegan but could easily swap white beans for chicken, and given that spinach and artichokes are my favorites, I totally plan to try it. Such a great idea, I’ll eat artichokes in anything 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
Artichokes are so distinct. I always forget about them and then rediscover their yumminess!
Sarah
Thats looks so good! I love burgers, so making them healthier is always great!
Strength and Sunshine
This was my first time making a nonvegan burger 😉 But these will definitely stay in rotation!
Lindsay L, RD (@LeanGrnBeanBlog)
i love chicken burgers! And adding spinach. I just made some fun turkey burgers yesterday that added spinach and blueberries!
Strength and Sunshine
O my gosh blueberries sound crazy awesome! I never thought to add something sweet like that! Sound like a total winner 😉
EatGreatBEGreat
Mmmm...these burgers sound and look amazing! A perfect summertime meal!
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! I'll be grilling these all summer long 🙂
The Fit Fork (@TheFitFork)
Looks really yummy, I love to grill
Strength and Sunshine
Grilling just makes everything delisious 😉
Linz
wow yum! those burgers look AWESOME!
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Linz 😉
Eryn Elizabeth
That sounds so delicious! Definitely going to have to try that one this weekend!
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! Let me know if you do! I want to hear your thoughts 🙂
Eryn Elizabeth
I definitely will!! I'll convince the fiancé to pull out the grill this weekend and give them a go.
jessielovestorun
I've never added artichoke to a burger mixture, but it sounds awesome. You'll have to check out either Lowes, Walmart or Target for a cheap grill. All are very reasonably priced 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
I saw some good ones in wal-mart! I am for sure going to be getting one!
jillconyers
The beet puree looks fabulous! Can't wait to try it.
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Jill! Hopefully you have a good food processor or blender! I used my mini attachment on my Ninja blender and it was not fun. I should have pulled out my food processor!