Deluxe Burger Salad with Special Sauce
How do we feed both our families and ourselves when we have dietary restrictions, without making two meals? This is one of the questions I get asked most often, and it's the kind of everyday problem I want to help you fix. Today, I've got one very yummy solution for you.
So much of making thyroid-healthy cooking and eating actually doable is taking the things you already love to eat and making slight tweaks. Burger night is a favorite on our family menu. My kiddo loves burgers, my husband loves burgers, who doesn't love burgers?! While they can't imagine skipping their beloved brioche buns, for me, burger night has become Burger Salad night.
The best part is that the prep is essentially the same, with a few tweaks.
- I set aside a few lettuce leaves for their burgers, and fill a dinner plate with lettuce for me.
- I slice half of the tomato for them and dice the rest for me, which works perfectly because I can use the ends and they can have the nice big slices from the middle.
- I slice avocado for them and dice a bit for me.
- I grab a strip of bacon from their burger fixin's, tear it into bits, and sprinkle on my salad.
- Obviously, I skip the bun (and don't miss it, or the bloat, or the skin issues, one lick).
Disclaimer: This information is for educational and inspirational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your diet, health care, or exercise regimen.
This recipe makes enough for about 8 burgers. Even though there are only 3 of us we always make this big batch because the leftovers never go to waste.
When it comes to burger toppings, we all like to "have it our way." This deluxe version includes all the bells and whistles: bacon, caramelized onion, avocado, tomato, fermented pickles, and of course, the Special Sauce!
If you want to streamline or change it, feel free! Replace the caramelized onions with sauteed mushrooms. Go super-high protein and put a fried egg on top. Skip the pickles and replace them with pickled beets. Go super basic and just do lettuce, tomato, burger, and sauce. Or leave out the nightshades if you need to and skip the tomato (and optional ketchup or BBQ sauce in the recipe).
The sky's the limit, and this is especially true with burger salad because there's no risk of overflowing the bun with too many toppings to fit your mouth around! Load it up however you like!
Serve your burgers with Crispy Sweet Potato Rounds.
Thyroid-healthy Highlights:
- Grass-fed (or grass “finished”) Beef has a far different and superior nutrient profile than industrially-raised, grain-finished beef, and is high in many key thyroid-supporting nutrients. It contains up to five times more Omega-3s than conventionally raised beef, which can help reduce inflammation in the body, as well as boost immunity. It also can have more than twice the amount of Vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant), and twice as much CLA as grain-finished beef (a fatty acid associated with reducing body fat).
- Avocado is rich in healthy fats like oleic acid, which can help reduce cholesterol.
- Avocado is also one of the few foods that helps the body produce glutathione, a super-antioxidant that can boost immune function, detoxify the liver, and help combat Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
- Tomatoes are a good source of key thyroid nutrients like vitamin A, Iron, and fiber. They are a very good source of vitamin C. A study recently shared in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism stated, “In patients with hypothyroidism and gastrointestinal pathology, vitamin C improves the abnormalities in serum free T4, T3, and TSH concentrations.”
Show Notes:
- Recipe: Crispy Sweet Potato Rounds
- For ingredient recommendations see links on recipe card below.
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More Salad Recipes to Try:
- Quinoa Tabbouleh
- Broth-poached Chicken with Summer Tabbouleh
- Ginger Basil Chicken Salad
- Salmon, Sweet Potato and Watercress Salad with Turmeric Cream
- Thai Beef Salad
- Tropical Chicken Salad
- Avocado and Grapefruit Salad with Broiled Salmon
Happy cooking, happy thriving, and enjoy the recipe (below)!
P.S. Need more thyroid-friendly recipe inspiration? I’ve got you covered. My Thyroid-friendly Everyday eCookbook features over 50 quick and easy, thyroid-friendly recipes your whole family will love. To take a peek at what’s inside, CLICK HERE.
