Get Ready to Change the Way You Grill – Apples in Your Burger (and on Top!) Add Crunch and Nutrition

Are you ready to kick off grilling season with a fresh, new burger combo? Did you know you can add grated apples to your meat mixture to add taste, texture and freshness? After months of shovelling, shivering and sipping soup, we’re ready to fire up our grills and enjoy the first days of al fresco dining.

Sure, you could slap some premade patties on the grill but this healthy burger is a snap to make and enjoy and it’s packed full of crunch and nutrition. The secret to its success is a new apple variety—20 years in the making—that is naturally slow to brown: the Cosmic Crisp®. Its flesh stays crispy and white even after slicing, and that means this burger will look as good when you’re eating it as it did while you were slicing and grating these exceptionally sweet, juicy and crispy apples.

Cosmic Crisp® Spiced Burgers

This yummy burger features sweet spices and grated apple and might be one of the best burgers you’ve ever tasted!

2 Cosmic Crisp® apples, peeled and cored

2 lbs (900 g) ground pork, ground turkey or ground beef

1 tbsp (15 mL) melted butter

2½ tsp (12 mL) ground coriander

1 tsp (5 mL) ground cumin

1 tsp (5 mL) ground cinnamon

1 tsp (5 mL) kosher salt

2 tsp (10 mL) freshly ground black pepper

½ tsp (2 mL) ground nutmeg

¼ tsp (1 mL) cayenne pepper

Grate the Cosmic Crisp® apples on the large holes of a box grater onto a plate. Press 2-3 paper towels onto the apple to remove excess moisture. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.

Add the meat of your choice and the butter. Mix well.

Add the coriander, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, nutmeg and cayenne. Mix until fully combined. Divide into four equal portions and shape into patties.

Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grill the burgers 5-7 minutes per side, until the centre is no longer pink.

Makes 4 burgers.

Tip

Slice some Cosmic Crisp® apples and use as the perfect burger topper.

Bonus recipe: This apple and celery salad is the ideal complement to the Cosmic Crisp® Spiced Burger.

Cosmic Crisp® Apple and Celery Salad

This salad has it all—a balance of crunchy, sweet apples, walnuts and celery, paired with goat cheese.

Salad

1 small bunch of celery including leaves

1 Cosmic Crisp® apple, cut into medium julienne strips

1/3 cup (75 mL) walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

1/3 cup (75 mL) crumbled goat cheese

Dressing

¼ cup (60 mL) fresh lemon juice

¼ cup (60 mL) Dijon mustard

2-3 tsp (10-15 mL) honey, to taste

½ cup (125 mL) olive oil

Remove 2 tbsp (30 mL) celery leaves from bunch for adding to the salad and cut celery stalks thinly on the diagonal. Place sliced celery in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes. Drain celery and pat dry.

While celery is soaking, make the dressing: whisk lemon juice, mustard, and honey to blend, then slowly whisk in the oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

In a large bowl, combine celery, celery leaves, apples, walnuts, and cheese. Add dressing and toss to coat.

 

The Cosmic Crisp® was classically bred by Washington State University tree fruit breeders to ensure this apple is naturally delicious and non-GMO. They are orchard-grown only in Washington state near the ideal apple-growing climate of the Columbia River.

They’re great for cooking and baking, due to their sweetness and crispy texture. Also, Cosmic Crisps® are a cook’s best friend because you can slice and chop them before you start cooking and baking and they’ll be beautiful when it comes time to add them to your recipe.

These crispy, juicy, sweet apples are available across Canada at most major retailers. If you don’t see them, just ask for directions to the Cosmic Crisp® display.

Like these recipes? Visit the Inspiration page at CosmicCrisp.com for great apple snacking ideas and so much more.

Click for recipes and more!

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