"BIG MAC" BURGER BOWL

I love a good salad. And I love a good burger. Combine the two and I’m one very happy camper.

This nutritious-and-delicious meal is super easy and versatile and always hits the spot. Use your favourite greens, season-up some ground beef (or Beyond Meat for a vegan option), add your favourite burger toppings, and top it all off with my homemade sweet and spicy “Big Mac” Sauce.

Side note: We love the sauce so much that I often make a double batch to enjoy with salad and roasted or grilled vegetables or meat later in the week!

“Big Mac” Burger Bowl with lettuce, microgreens, avocado, dill pickles, roasted red onion, tomato, Eaton Hemp hemp hearts, vegan queso, Homemade “Big Mac” Sauce, and gluten-free keto-friendly crackers.

Ingredients:

• leaf lettuce or fresh greens of choice

• Seasoned Ground Beef or Beyond Beef for vegan (recipe below)

• Homemade Big Mac Sauce (below, or substitute ranch or thousand island dressing)

• optional toppings: Rich Greens microgreens, tomatoes, roasted vegetables, diced dill pickles, raw or roasted red onion, grated cheese (dairy or dairy-free) or queso sauce, diced avocado or guacamole, green onion, pita chips or croutons, or toppings of choice

Seasoned Ground Beef (3-4 servings):

• 1 teaspoon avocado oil

• 1 pound (450 grams) lean ground beef

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• optional add-ins: mustard, Good Food For Good ketchup or BBQ sauce, salsa, Worcestershire sauce, sriracha, or seasonings of choice

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet (I prefer cast iron) over medium-high heat.

2. Add the ground beef and use a wooden spoon or stiff silicone spatula to break it into a few large pieces. Let the meat brown without moving it for 4 to 5 minutes.

3. Break the beef into smaller pieces and continue cooking, stirring periodically, approximately 4 to 5 more minutes or until cooked through. 

4. Season with salt and pepper and stir.  Remove from heat and drain.

Note: If browning extra beef to freeze or use in other recipes, I suggest keeping the seasoning simple. However, for these “Big Mac” Burger Bowls, I like to mix in a touch of mustard (I love Kozlik’s Amazing Maple), Good Food For Good BBQ sauce or ketchup, mild salsa, and a splash each of Worcestershire sauce and sriracha.

The cooked ground beef can be used immediately or stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or the freezer for up to 3 months.

Homemade “Big Mac” Sauce:

• 1/4 cup avocado mayonnaise

• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (or use additional mayonnaise)

• 2 Tbsp finely chopped dill pickles (or use sweet pickles or relish and omit the sweetener)

• 1 1/2 Tbsp mustard (I use Kozlik’s Amazing Maple)

• 1 Tbsp finely diced green or white onion 

• 1/2 Tbsp Good Food For Good ketchup or BBQ sauce

• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar

• 2 tsp Lakanto Brown or Classic sugar-free monk fruit sweetener (or substitute brown or white sugar) 

• 1/2 tsp paprika

• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

• 1/4 tsp onion powder 

• 1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

Put all of the ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine. Refrigerate until serving. Enjoy with the “Big Mac” Burger Bowl or on top of salad or roasted or grilled vegetables or meat. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Big Mac Burger Bowl with Nordic greens, seasoned ground beef, warm roasted vegetables (onion, cauliflower and turnip), tomatoes, diced dill pickles, avocado, Rawcology Smoky Cheeze coconut chips, vegan queso, diced green onion, and “Big Mac” Sauce.