If you are carb conscious one of the very first things you learn is skip the bun on a burger and swap it for a lettuce wrap, or have the burger with a side salad. That’s why I love Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. They have delicious healthy choices. Even with a salad or lettuce wrap I still miss the fries. However, I discovered a satisfying solution when making this salad at home, namely sweet potato “croutons.” This is the healthier swap for a traditional hamburger and french fries. Who needs a bun or fries with this satisfying salad? Whether you are trying to eat AIP, Whole30, paleo, or low carb in general, this meal will leave you very satisfied. This is one of my “go to” meals and it makes for a easy week-night meal. I don’t always make the onion relish. That is a once-in-a-while treat.
Hamburger Salad with Bacon and Onion Relish and Sweet Potato Croutons
For the salad
4 cups of ice berg lettuce, romaine, or combination
olive oil, salt, and pepper (omit for AIP), or salad dressing of choice
–
For the burger
2 (5 oz) hamburger patties
salt
pepper (omit for AIP)
garlic powder
–
For the Bacon and Onion Relish
4 onions
1 package of bacon (preferably sugar free and omit for AIP)
–
For the Sweet Potato “Croutons“
1 large sweet potato
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 teaspoon of Dijon or yellow mustard (omit for AIP)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper (omit for AIP)
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika (omit for AIP)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
1/8 teaspoon (or more) cayenne (omit for AIP)
1. Chop salad and set aside.
2. Get started on the onion relish. Fry bacon in two or three batches and set cooked bacon aside on paper towel. Slice onions in 1/4 inch rings and cook in bacon fat over medium-low heat for an hour, stirring often until deeply caramelized. Off heat crumble bacon and mix with onion.
3. Preheat oven to 400. While onions are cooking peel and dice sweet potatoes. Toss olive oil, mustard, salt, pepper, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, parsley, and cayenne with the diced sweet potatoes. Bake on parchment lined paper for 12 minutes, flip with spatula and bake for another 12 minutes or until golden and crispy. Set aside.
4. Sprinkle burgers with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and sear burger patties in a hot pan coated lightly with olive oil. Sear for 5 minutes and flip. Sear for another 5 minutes. Turn off heat and cover for two minutes to rest and continue heating to medium. Leave covered longer to cook to medium-well.
4, Dress salad, place burger on top and garnish with bacon and onion relish. add sweet potato “croutons.” Enjoy!
Hamburger Salad with Bacon and Onion Relish and Sweet Potato Croutons
Ingredients
- For the salad
- 4 cups of ice berg lettuce, romaine, or combination
- olive oil, salt, and pepper (omit for AIP), or salad dressing of choice
- –
- For the burger
- 2 (5 oz) hamburger patties
- salt
- pepper (omit for AIP)
- garlic powder
- –
- For the Bacon and Onion Relish
- 4 onions
- 1 package of bacon (preferably sugar free)
- –
- For the Sweet Potato “Croutons“
- 1 large sweet potato
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of Dijon or yellow mustard (omit for AIP)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper (omit for AIP)
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika (omit for AIP)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/8 teaspoon (or more) cayenne (omit for AIP)
Directions
- Step 1 Chop salad and set aside.
- Step 2 Get started on the onion relish. Fry bacon in two or three batches and set cooked bacon aside on paper towel. Slice onions in 1/4 inch rings and cook in bacon fat over medium-low heat for an hour, stirring often until deeply caramelized. Off heat crumble bacon and mix with onion.
- Step 3 Preheat oven to 400. While onions are cooking peel and dice sweet potatoes. Toss olive oil, mustard, salt, pepper, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, parsley, and cayenne with the diced sweet potatoes. Bake on parchment lined paper for 12 minutes, flip with spatula and bake for another 12 minutes or until golden and crispy. Set aside.
- Step 4 Sprinkle burgers with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and sear burger patties in a hot pan coated lightly with olive oil. Sear for 5 minutes and flip. Sear for another 5 minutes. Turn off heat and cover for two minutes to rest and continue heating to medium. Leave covered longer to cook to medium-well.
- Step 5 Dress salad, place burger on top and garnish with bacon and onion relish. add sweet potato “croutons.”
