Healthy BBQ: South Beach Diet Chimichurri Burgers

FitSugar — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 02:30:00 -0700

I am always looking for healthy foods to make on the grill. These Chimichurri Burgers from the South Beach Diet: Taste of Summer Cookbook really fill that order. Instead of smothering your hamburger with condiments filled with hidden calories, this burger is topped with chimichurri, a thick herb sauce that hails from Argentina. Plus, we all know parsley (the herb in this sauce) is a healthy addition to any meal. I truly appreciate an alternative to the too sweet taste of ketchup

Recipe and Photo courtesy of: The South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook, by Dr. Arthur Agatston (Rodale, 2007)

To see this tasty and easy recipe, just read more

South Beach Chimichurri Burgers
from The South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook

Chimichurri Sauce
1 cup fresh Italian parsley leaves
3 scallions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon salt

Burgers
1 1/2 pounds extra-lean ground beef
2 teaspoons dried basil
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 whole-wheat hamburger buns - lightly toasted

Make the sauce first by:

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor.
Pulse until just puréed, about one minute. Set aside.

For the burgers:

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and combine.
Form beef mixture into 4 patties, about 1 inch thick.
Lightly coat a grill or grill pan with cooking spray and heat to medium high.
Grill burgers 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 160 degrees F.
Serve burgers on buns topped with chimichurri sauce.

If you are following the South Beach Diet this recipe is considered a Phase 1 recipe if you forgo the bun. With the bun, it is rated as Phase 2.

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Just in case you are interested in the nutritional information, here it is.

Phase	Calories	Fat (g)	Protein (g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)
One	330	19	36	3	1
Two	450	21	40	25	4

South Beach Diet: Taste of Summer Cookbook

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Most diet cookbooks don't really appeal to me. The recipes seem to gimmicky, difficult to make or look as if they would produce tasteless food. The new South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook is definitely different. Its pages are filled with inspiring recipes, 150 of them to be exact. When flipping through it there were so many recipes I wanted to make and that is a good sign.

There are recipes for breakfast, soups (yes, soup is a great summer food), salads, sides, sea food and more. Dr. Agatston, creator of the South Beach Diet, writes in the introduction that since we have such easy access to "garden- and market fresh ingredients" during the summer months it is a great time to cook and healthy foods. All the fresh produce means nutritious phytonutrients that will protect your health.

I think this cookbook would be great not only for someone following the South Beach diet, but it's also great for people looking to cook healthy, low fat meals. Although the recipes are labeled according to the South Beach Phases, the majority of the recipes seem worthy of making, some even for guests. The only bone I have to pick with the content is in the dessert section. Some recipes call for "fat free whipped topping," and this essentially means some version of Cool Whip Free which contains partially hydrogenated palm oil which I avoid even in small doses. Other desserts, however, rely on sugar substitutes to provide sweetness which is not nearly as unhealthy and can satisfy one's sweet tooth.

Buy the "Taste of Summer Cookbook" for $19.11 from Amazon.