This heat wave we're having is just killing my poor garden.
Lets be clear, I'm not very good at gardening to begin with. I always manage to over-water or under-feed or get busy and just end up unable to tend to it. What starts off so beautiful in the spring is just a mess by the end of the summer.
I managed to do a little better this year, and had high hopes for a successful harvest through the summer, until the month of 100+ degrees (and the watering restrictions) had my tidy little rows of herbs and veggies wilted and dying off. I managed to gather up the last of my lavender, rosemary, thyme, basil, and oregano before finally giving up the idea of a hearty and robust herb garden. For the 8th year running.
I find that I'm often relutant to use the last of those herbs unless it's for something really worthy…and this recipe totally is.
The burgers are juicy and flavorful, and the sauce just pulls it all together. I wasn't sure about the combination of the chili sauce and the herbs, but it just works. These are a big hit around here… Chris has requested these three times this month already!
Start with 2 tablespoons chopped herbs in whatever combination you like. For this round of burgers, I chose basil, rosemary, and thyme.
Mince the herbs along with a clove of garlic, and add to a pound of ground beef; the mixture is formed into patties and cooked to desired doneness (we pan-fried these).
In a small saucepan, I mixed up the sauce ingredients- tomato, tomato paste, water, vinegar, chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper, garlic, cocoa powder and cinnamon. It just simmers merrily away until the burgers are done, and then gets spooned over the top of them.
Seriously easy. SERIOUSLY yum.
Since my garden is well and truly done for the year, I'll be playing with the dried herbs for the next round…while I try and convince Chris to help me create a spot for an indoor herb garden!
Garden Herb Burgers with a Chunky Chili Sauce
1 pound ground beef
1 clove garlic
2 tablepoons fresh thyme, rosemary, basil (orwhatever combination of herbs you like)
1 tomato, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Crumble ground beef loosely into a bowl with your fingers, breaking it up gently.
Mince garlic clove and herbs, and sprinkle over ground beef.
Gently combine ground beef and herbs and garlic, be careful not to overmix or handle the beef too roughly.
Form into patties, and grill, broil, or pan-fry to desired doneness.
While burgers are cooking, combine the tomato with tomato paste and remaining ingredients in a small saucepan.
Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring regularly, until burgers finish cooking.
Spoon sauce over burgers and serve.
recipe adapted from this source
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