No other food screams 'summer' like a good burger and while this is a truly all-American dish, it has also grown roots around the world as it was incorporated into various cuisines. Nowadays, a cheeseburger remains the classic but it's not the only option when it comes to an all-around good burger, especially not when it comes to backyard barbecues. It may have been the original, but it's not the only - from Asian twists to healthy yet exciting flavors, burgers can definitely steal the show when they're breaking the norm.
Any of these with a side of hot, crispy fries (although there are plenty of other great potato options from around the world) would be amazing for an end-of-the-summer cookout.
Greek 'Gyro' Burgers
Gyro meat can be a bit of a challenge to recreate at home and though many Greek recipes are quite simple (especially authentic recipes), there's an easier way to recreate that classic gyro flavor without installing a meat spit in the backyard. The bases for Greek flavors are in the spices used to season the meat as well as the sauce that's served with it, creating that classic gyro flavor. Use ground lamb or a mixture of lamb and beef (and 50/50 ratio is good) in order to create tender, juicy burgers that will grill up nicely over an open flame.
A dry spice mixture of allspice, savory, coriander, cumin, salt, and pepper - all in equal amounts except for the cumin, which is just a sprinkle - will help to drive home that classic Greek scent and flavor. Top burgers with lettuce, tomato, onion, and serve in a pita! For a bit more Greek flair, add some Tzatziki sauce to the mix. Equal parts sour cream and plain greek yogurt mixed with a grated cucumber (drain the water first!), salt, pepper, lemon juice, and dill to taste will send this home with a zing.
The Famous Ramen Burger
The Ramen burger has been turned into a popular street cart food and is also super popular in Hawaii. Creating the Ramen 'buns' couldn't be easier and is a fast recipe to recreate at home. Start by cooking ramen noodles (sans seasoning) according to the package directions, drain, and set aside to cool. In a separate bowl, mix two eggs, salt, and pepper to taste in a bowl, and then drop (cooled) noodles in. Simply mix and place in a small bowl - or anything in the shape of a burger bun - and refrigerate to set the shape. After about 20 minutes or more, the ramen patties will be ready to fry and only take a few minutes on each side until crispy and slightly browned.
For the actual burger, ground beef can be marinated simply with soy sauce, sesame oil, and even some hoisin or teriyaki, before being set upon one of the crunchiest, texture-filled buns known to man.
The Asian Fusion Burger
To continue this theme is a recipe from AllRecipes for an Asian Barbecue Burger. For this recipe, ground beef is mixed with popular Asian flavors such as hoisin sauce, siracha chile-garlic sauce, pepper flakes, garlic, ground ginger, and green onions. The result is bold, flavorful, zesty burgers that really pack a punch and need no further embellishment unless it's in the form of mild cheese.
There's no sauce needed because these burgers are truly that delicious, and all the sauces inside help them maintain their juicy texture. These burgers could also sit in the refrigerator for a bit prior to grilling in order to lock in that tasty marinade mix.
Mexican Fiesta Burger
If it's a party, it might as well be a fiesta! Also called Hamburguesas Mexicanas and have been voted as one of the best burgers on AllRecipes. While it's usually what's on the inside that counts, these burgers also have a total of two delicious toppings that really push them over the edge in terms of flavor. The actual burger mix consists of three pounds of ground beef (which makes quite a few burgers), combined with one and a half diced onions, roughly the same amount of bread crumbs, an entire pound of pepper jack cheese, and four eggs.
For the show-stopping toppers, fresh pico and mashed avocado with serrano chiles (be careful, they're spicy!) and roughly a cup and a half of diced onions will finish it up. The pico can come from a favorite recipe or from simply mixing fresh, small-diced tomatoes with serrano chile peppers, diced onions, lime juice, salt, pepper, and cilantro to taste.