I’m not always a burger fan. I have to be in a mood, and even then, it has to be the right sort of burger with the right sort of fixins. A few weeks ago, I got a hankerin’ — but not for just any burger.

I wanted a burger with flavor the size o’ Texas (can you hear my cowgirl twang?), a mile high and a mile wide, with cheese runnin’ down the sides like the Rio Grande.

Too much? Okay, I’ll stop.

But I wanted a really good burger, y’all. And so I started dreaming. And I reckon this here Tumbleweed Burger (oops, I said I’d stop, didn’t I?) is what I dreamed.

I knew I wanted to season the meat, and dry seasonings are best to ensure you can still form a nice patty. I chose fresh cilantro and my favorite taco seasoning (you can make your own, but I’m not sure you can make it taste as good as this), McCormick’s Cheesy Taco. In case you’re wondering, McCormick’s isn’t compensating me to brag about their seasoning and I had to pay for that little packet o’ love straight out of my own bank account. Worth every penny of $1.09.

The patties were the best part. They were mouthwateringly juicy, and had such an amazing Tex-Mex flavor. The toppings sent it over the edge: tangy spicy mayonnaise, ripe tomato, dripping hot dog chili, smooth avocado, melty meunster cheese, and crispy fried onions.

Okay, actually, the fried onions might not have made it. They might have burned instantaneously because I didn’t measure the temperature of my oil. There might have only been one fried onion rescued from the carnage. I might have put it on the burger in this photo to salvage my reputation. But I might have too much integrity to let you believe my fried onions worked. So, um. You can skip the fried onions if, like me, you’re not a fan of frying. Or, if you do try them and they work wonderfully, you can email me and gloat (just make sure to tell me how they taste).

Failures happen. But they don’t have to ruin everything!

I served the burgers on Nature’s Pride buns that I was sent (to review, at no cost to me) as part of Foodbuzz’s Tastemaker program. They were 100% whole wheat, which was nice nutritionally and aesthetically — there’s something about brown bread that just feels tasty to me! I thought they were perfect for the burger once they were buttery and toasty.


Dad said he thought the avocado slices would be better served on the side — I tried it both ways and couldn’t decide!

Now I have to let you in on a little secret. My goal on Willow Bird Baking is to encourage you to get in the kitchen and make something you never dreamed you could make. I do it all the time, and sometimes fail, but when I succeed, I feel like I’ve “leveled up” in my kitchen confidence; I want you to feel that too. None of that is the secret, though. The secret is . . . this was the first time in my life I’d made a burger.

That shouldn’t shock you — most of the dishes I post are first tries for me — but maybe it does, since maybe everybody on the planet has made a burger before. I might not mention it at all, except that maybe there’s someone out there who also has a secret, who also hasn’t given burgers a shot. Maybe you thought you needed a grill, or just weren’t sure how to go about it. Maybe you thought they’d turn out tough. Maybe you gave up and went to a fast food drive-through instead.

If that’s you (I won’t tell anybody), I want you to make this burger! I’ve included detailed instructions below, and I’ve tested it out for you — I promise it’s a tasty one! What have you got to lose? Tell me, readers: are you a burger master, a burger beginner, or somewhere in between?

Tumbleweed Burger

Recipe by: Willow Bird Baking (spicy mayonnaise adapted from White on Rice Couple)
Yields: 6 burgers

Ingredients:
1.5 pounds ground beef
4-6 tablespoons taco seasoning (I use McCormick’s Cheesy Taco and highly recommend it)
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
6 slices muenster cheese
hamburger buns
butter for toasting buns

Spicy Mayonnaise Ingredients:
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon sriracha (chile sauce)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
fresh cilantro to taste

Burger toppings:
fried onion rings, if desired
hot dog chili (I used Texas Pete brand, warmed in the microwave)
tomato, avocado, romaine lettuce, chopped green onions

Directions:
Mix ground beef, taco seasoning, and cilantro and form into 6 patties (handling as little as possible, so you don’t toughen the meat). Broil for around 9 minutes until checking for doneness by splitting one of the thickest patties in half and examining the meat. You want them to be slightly pink in the middle (see how to tell if a burger is done). Place muenster cheese on each patty to melt when you pull them out of the oven.

While broiling, melt butter in a skillet and toast buns (alternatively, brush melted butter onto buns and broil them to toast, keeping a close watch so as not to burn them).

Assemble the burger: Mix spicy mayonnaise ingredients together. Spread generously onto toasted bun, topping with cooked burger, fried onion rings, avocado slices, tomato slice, a leaf of romaine lettuce. Enjoy!

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by | 25 Comments

25 Comments on Tumbleweed Burger

  1. Jules
    August 1, 2010 at 2:41 am (14 years ago)

    Long-time (well, a couple months) lurker, and as a longstanding vegetarian/occasional pescatarian* I gotta say, your burger is making me reconsider….

    *Yes, I will eat fish, primarily to make life easier for my future in-laws, who just don’t get it.

    Reply
    • Julie
      August 1, 2010 at 9:41 am (14 years ago)

      haha, I love it! Thanks, Jules 🙂

      Reply
  2. Joanne
    August 1, 2010 at 2:16 pm (14 years ago)

    I usually have to SERIOUSLY be in the mood for burgers also. But looking at these have currently put me in just the right frame of mind. Good think I have some ground meat sitting in the fridge!

    Reply
    • Julie
      August 1, 2010 at 9:37 pm (14 years ago)

      Ooh, you have to go for it, Joanne!

      Reply
  3. Julie M.
    August 1, 2010 at 9:29 pm (14 years ago)

    I do feel like I make a mean turkey burger, but woah, it’s nothing like this little gem. That is definitely a Texas sized burger! Nice job on your first attempt. Hope you had a great weekend!

    Reply
    • Julie
      August 1, 2010 at 9:37 pm (14 years ago)

      Thanks, Julie! Weekend flashed by, as usual, but it was nice!

      I actually just got a meat grinder for my KitchenAid and am excited to venture into turkey burger land — and sausages. Mm.

      Reply
  4. Jenni
    August 1, 2010 at 10:33 pm (14 years ago)

    That looks amazingly delicious!!! I think I might need one!

    Reply
    • Julie
      August 1, 2010 at 10:36 pm (14 years ago)

      Thanks, Jenni!

      Reply
  5. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
    August 2, 2010 at 6:36 am (14 years ago)

    Julie that looks incredible and I love the name! I guess I’m somewhere in between but I do know that I love a good burger! 😀

    Reply
    • Julie
      August 2, 2010 at 1:39 pm (14 years ago)

      I knew you would, Lorraine, after that In-N-Out review you did! Yum! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Andrea @ Thin Thighs & Sweet Potato Fries
    August 2, 2010 at 1:11 pm (14 years ago)

    Julie, this looks a-maz-ing! I just had lunch, yet suddenly I’m starving again! 🙂 I use McCormick’s taco seasoning all the time, but I never would have thought to use it in a burger patty! Nice! And spicy is right up my alley! 😉

    Reply
    • Julie
      August 2, 2010 at 1:40 pm (14 years ago)

      I love that stuff, Andrea — oh man. I could eat their taco seasoning like a pixie stick, straight outta the package 😉

      Reply
  7. Meggie Wallace
    August 2, 2010 at 2:44 pm (14 years ago)

    this looks wonderful!!! Definitely going to have to try it soon. I am also not a big burger person, but when it strikes…. it hurts if it isn’t perfectly delicious.
    Plus, tacos are usually pretty good, so awesome combo!

    Reply
    • Julie
      August 2, 2010 at 2:48 pm (14 years ago)

      Thanks, Meggie! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Anna Johnston
    August 2, 2010 at 7:51 pm (14 years ago)

    There is nothing like a good burger – this one would go down well anytime the mood strikes methinks 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie
      August 13, 2010 at 1:56 pm (14 years ago)

      Thanks, Anna!

      Reply
  9. Maranda
    August 2, 2010 at 9:49 pm (14 years ago)

    Another slam dunk my dear! This looks amazing! Actually, The Hubble is from Texas (we met there) so we have burgers all the time. I’m definitely going to have to give this a try though. We’ve never put taco seasoning in…totally drooling over here!

    Reply
    • Julie
      August 13, 2010 at 1:56 pm (14 years ago)

      The taco seasoning totally made it!! Thanks, Maranda 🙂

      Reply
    • Julie
      August 13, 2010 at 1:55 pm (14 years ago)

      Thanks, Kathryn! I did!

      Reply
  11. sheila @ elements
    August 13, 2010 at 1:51 pm (14 years ago)

    Your burger is definitely making my mouth water, Julie! You did great! I especially love the idea of adding onion rings to the top of ’em! I love slaw burgers and I think adding onion rings to my slaw burgers would be perfect!

    Me…I’m definitely not a burger master. The burger master would be my husband. I never eat a burger out because they just don’t even come close to his.

    Anyway, I love spicy mayo! It’s definitely the icing on the cake…’er…burger! 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie
      August 13, 2010 at 1:56 pm (14 years ago)

      Aw, thanks Sheila!

      “I never eat a burger out because they just don’t even come close to his.”

      Now that’s high praise! I think you’re going to have to ship one over for me to get the full effect 🙂

      Reply

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