Rethink your burger: Tomatoes and fragrant pesto give this sandwich a delicious twist.
Ingredients
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 cup baby spinach (1 ounce)
1 clove garlic, peeled
1/4 cup walnuts
4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for grilling
Coarse salt and pepper
1 pound ground white-meat chicken
2 large tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch slices
3 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
4 pieces focaccia, halved
The secret to making these burgers so tasty? Pesto is mixed in with the meat! Everyday Food editor Sarah Carey teaches you how to make this healthy dinner.
Directions
In a food processor, puree basil, spinach, garlic, walnuts, oil, and 1 tablespoon water. Season pesto with salt and pepper.
Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Combine 1 tablespoon pesto, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and chicken and form into 4 patties. Clean and lightly oil hot grill. Brush tomatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill patties, covered, 4 minutes. Flip patties and top with cheese. Add tomatoes to grill and cook, flipping once, until tomatoes are lightly charred and burgers are opaque throughout, 4 minutes.
Assemble sandwiches in focaccia with pesto, burgers, and tomatoes.
Cook’s Note
This homemade spinach-and-basil pesto is also great on pizza, tossed with pasta, or in scrambled eggs.
Our friend Sarah Carey, editor-in-chief of Everyday Food Magazine just launched her delicious “How-To” series on YouTube. A 13-year veteran of the Martha Stewart test kitchen, Sarah is an expert in converting culinary classics into easy and convenient meals for the family.
Tune in to Sarah’s Everyday Food YouTube Channel Monday through Friday as Sarah introduces viewers to fresh meal ideas like Simple Potato Gnocchi, Crispy Beef Tacos, Fudgy Pecan Brownies and Glazed Citrus Doodles.
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