Salsa Verde Burgers with Fontina Watermelon and Basil
Salsa Verde Burgers with Fontina Watermelon and Basil, vibrant twist on classic American comfort food.
I bet you had no idea when I posted Creamy Avocado Salsa Verde on Monday, that I was scheming behind the scenes.
It was all part of the master-plan to introduce you to this oddly intriguing hamburger.
We eat a lot of hamburgers. Although my hubby would gladly dine on fine cuisine anytime the opportunity arises, he’s really a burger and pizza kind of guy.
Needless to say, when your husband craves hamburgers all the time, you find ways to get creative with them. We’ve made a plethora of hamburger recipes over the years.
Our latest creation, Salsa Verde Burgers with Fontina Watermelon and Basil, is essentially a glorified cheeseburger. The patty is a simple beef patty topped with rich melty fontina cheese. All the bells and whistles are in the “fixins.”
Instead of using plain-jane lettuce and tomato, we decided to give basil leaves and watermelon a go.
Watermelon mimics the moist clean texture of a good slice of tomato, but offers a much sweeter bite. The delicate essence of licorice from the basil leaves, is the perfect accompaniment to the watermelon and salty cheese. Finally, creamy and zesty Salsa Verde gives the burger the necessary kick of acidity and spice to create the perfect balance of flavors.
You may ask, why watermelon? Tomatoes are so ripe and plentiful this time of year; why mess with a good thing?
If you must have a tomato on your burger, I understand. Yet, watermelon is definitely worth giving a try. Sometimes all a run-of-the-mill dinner needs, is a kick in the pants and a new ingredient.
How to Make Perfect Hamburger Patties:
- Don’t overwork the meat; it will get tough. Gently toss in the seasoning, keeping the ground meat loose.
- Use a knife to separate the meat into equal portion, so you don’t have 3 uniform burgers and one “baby” burger.
- Press the meat into a ball, then flatten on wax paper and reform the edges.
- MAKE A DENT IN THE CENTER. The middle of a patty tends to puff while cooking. If you don’t do this, you’ll end up with hamburger balls.
- Make the patties slightly larger than the buns. They shrink while cooking and will end up being the same size.
- A little pink in the center is a good thing. You don’t want to eat raw burgers, but try not to overcook the patties. Pink = Juicy!
Serve These Burgers With:
Grilled Corn with Smokey lime Mayo
Other Great Summer Burgers:
Spicy Black Bean Burger ~ Eat Live Run
Tuna Burgers ~ Sippity Sup
Salsa Verde Burgers with Fontina Watermelon and Basil
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef chuck
- 6 slices fontina cheese
- 6 hamburger buns
- 6 slices watermelon
- 12-18 leaves fresh basil (large)
- 1 cup salsa verde
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to high heat. Portion and form the ground beef into six hamburger patties, making an indentation in the centers. Salt and pepper both sides of the patties.
- Slice the watermelon into 1/3-inch slices. Use a biscuit cutter to cut watermelon circles.
- Grill the hamburgers for 3-5 minutes per side. Add the fontina slices to the top of each patty 1 minutes before removing from the grill. Tent with foil to keep warm.
- Toast the buns on the grill for 30-60 seconds, until char marks form.
- Layer the bun with 2-3 large basil leaves, a watermelon circle, the patty with cheese, and top with a large spoonful of salsa verde. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Making this recipe? Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!
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Hamburgers are usually a feature of fast food restaurants. The hamburgers served in major fast food establishments are usually mass-produced in factories and frozen for delivery to the site. These hamburgers are thin and of uniform thickness, differing from the traditional American hamburger prepared in homes and conventional restaurants, which is thicker and prepared by hand from ground beef. –
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LOVE your fontina-watermelon combo. I just put grilled peaches on my burger two days ago and folks looked at me like I was crazy! I’d eat two of your burgers (with a veggie pattie of course…)
Sounds like an interesting combination of flavors. Don’t think I would like it but I might give it a go. Don’t think anyone else around here would try it though.
That looks incredible!!!
Beef + Watermelon + Basil. Yum. Thoughts on grilling the watermelon disks?
You’re so clever! I’m tasting the amazing flavors as I type :)
Oh my goodness, I love that avocado salsa verde. This whole thing looks fabulous!
This is a whole picnic in a burger! The watermelon is thrilling :)
This is officially the most creative burger I’ve seen in quite some time. And that’s saying something…with all the twists on burgers that are out there!
This looks so incredible!
Very creative and very summer loving style burger :) Truly great flavors working together here!
oooh this burger does look pretty freakin outstanding!
I would love to try this burger!! water,melon with salsa verde, really does it get nay better..i think not..
I know I love watermelon and basil together, why not add a burger and some cheese?
I love the idea of a watermelon in the burger, very neat!
never thought of watermelon on a hamburger! It sounds intrigueing… :) Thanks for the burger tips – I need them!
Hello I really like your blog. I think you have much imagination and interesting dishes, I’ve done one of your recipes and I really liked. Greetings from Spain.
I’m officially drooling (this happens often when I visit here). What a great flavor combination. This looks so delicious, and it is a yummy way to start my Sunday morning. I hope you have a beautiful day full of laughter and love, my friend!
Very interesting. I think you are on to something here.
Okay, this is the COOLEST thing I have ever seen. I only recently tried watermelon with cheese, and have seriously been having it at least once a week since. This like likes such a great way to turn that obsession in to something a little more substantial and creative! Love it.
Thanks for the link that is so nice. now let me revel some in your creation. GREG
Such creativity! Looks delicious!
That’s like the coolest idea EVER! My next burger will most definitely rock some watermelon :) Buzzed
you sure have piqued my interest to try one!!
Wow! That really is a crazy aunt of a burger! Tho, as you say, they’re the ones you most look forward to seeing. Stunning, mouthwatering photos. You’ve just set off a burger craving. Must… have… watermelon…
I just pulled this up and this is so what I need right now! Minus the watermelon, plus a tomato slice. :))
I love that you used watermelon on a burger! Dishes that combine sweet, savory, and spicy are faves. I bet the flavors marry perfectly!
watermelon in the burger wow innovative lovely loaded burger
I have my doubts about watermelon in savory recipes, but this looks so good and juicy I’d eat it!
Absolutely fabulous! Believe it or not – I’m the eccentric, yet amiable aunt in my family! You made me smile!
Oh, Sommer, those burgers are amazing. The cheese oozing down the side; no wonder your husband could eat those time after time. I don’t know if I’d be brave enough to try this with watermelon. I’d like to say yes, but I don’t know. I agree about the pinkness of the meat though. In fact, I lean towards more light red than pink. :)
This sounds like an extraordinary burger! Watermelon.. who’d have thought! Thanks for sharing, this will liven up our grilled burgers this weekend.
This has seriously rocked my world. I really, really want to eat this as soon as possible.
OMG. Watermellon on a burger?????? YES! And you even made it look so pretty with those perfect round watermellon slices. I have got to try this!
Could this possibly be more vibrant and beautiful? What a delicious-looking burger! We rarely get hungry just looking at photos, but this one has us running home to create this dish!
What a special burger…with watermelon!! Has to be good for summer.
Watermelon on a burger? Okay, I’d give it a whirl. Why not!
Very original! I like that, sometimes it good to mix things up a little bit. That’s where great recipes comes from.
Watermelon – now that is creative! Never would have known by the way you cut them – sneaky!
Talk about the creativity! And 2nd photo makes my mouth droooooooooooooooooooooooooool. I meant it.
Wow.. watermelon on a burger! That’s a real twist! I could so see your salsa verde topping this so nicely. Very creative, can’t wait to try it out.
OMG! THE BEST burger I’ve EVER had!
Thanks so much for sharing ;-D.
I don’t even like ground beef that much but now all I can think about is Having a burger with sweet melon! Thanks a lot !!! ;)
WHAT!!!???!!! Watermelon, basil, and salsa verde? That burger is one pampered bit of beef! I am intrigued!
What a wonderfully different burger. I love the melding of all the different items. Delicious I am sure. Come over and see us today. We have a really delicious Southern favorite.
Love this combo. Whoda thunk watermelon? Brilliant!!!
Makes me crave a big, juicy burger. I’m game…heck if I just made goat barbecue I can surely try watermelon on a burger!
This is probably one of the most unique recipes I’ve seen in a while! Great job! Love everything about it – salsa verda, watermelon – and it’s a burger! Yum!
Now that is an interesting and unusual burger – would never have thought to use watermelon in a burger! Very creative and your salsa verde goes perfectly ;)!
Wow, I love that you used watermelon to replace the tomato- I will have to try that! The salsa verde also looks amazing.
Hi Summer, That is a great looking burger! I totally have to try the watermelon addition, love it.
I weigh my patties and use a nut jar lid lined with plastic foil to press them into the round shape. It works wonderfully. Hope you are having a great summer with your kids. Kirsten
You’re very creative! I’d have never considered a watermelon slice on a burger. That’s a nice fat burger too. I’m a burger and pizza kinda guy too!
Spicy salsa, juicy burger and sweet juicy watermelon- my mouth is watering. This is really something special-Great post-Buzz Buzz!
What an interesting and creative combination! This is an absolute must try for sure. I would never think to put watermelon with a burger, but now that I think about it I am sure the flavors compliment each other rather nicely.
This is a great combination :) Looks so yummy!
Your pictures are unbelieveable. I love how creative this burger is… looks totally delish!
when i saw the picture, i thought you were using beets, which is actually a common burger topping in new zealand.
and when i read the salsa recipe yesterday, my first thought was, that would be so good on a burger.
bittman did a thing on grilled veggies a couple of weeks ago, and recommended grilled watermelon as a meat substitute on a burger. so i’m guessing a grilled watermelon on top of a grilled beef patty would work as well.
great tip on the dent concept!
cheers!
wow some kind of fruit burger love the idea.