If you’re a hamburger lover, this beetroot hamburger recipe is for you. Aussie Style Burgers are the perfect way to combine flavors and textures from two of Australia’s favorite foods: burgers and beets.
The beetroot in these burgers adds sweetness, whilst the onion provides a savory flavor. This dish can be served as part of a BBQ or paired with potato wedges for an easy lunch option at home.
Now let’s learn more about this Aussie’s favorite dish and how to make it!
A Hamburger is a type of sandwich that consists of one or more cooked patties of ground beef, onion, and other ingredients placed inside a sliced bread roll or bun.
When it comes to hamburger recipes, there is no one “right” way. Many people enjoy their burgers cooked in a variety of ways. The patty can be pan-fried, grilled, smoked, or flame-broiled. It might be topped with cheese or condiments like ketchup, mustard, bbq sauce, and mayonnaise.
A hamburger is not a sandwich because it does not have two slices of bread. Rather, the hamburger patty is served between buns or cooked on top of toast with cheese and other condiments.
What is a Beetroot?
Beetroot. Credit: canva
Beetroot is a root vegetable with an earthy flavor and sweet taste. They are high in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins A, C, and B complex.
Beetroots are popular in Australia because they grow well here; we have been growing them for over 100 years! They were used to make sugar on farms, but later on, they became popular as a vegetable.
Beetroot is rich in folate, which keeps your blood vessels healthy, and potassium helps protect your heart. That is also especially important for pregnant women and can help reduce the risk of birth defects such as spina bifida.
Beetroots can be eaten raw by grating them into salads or slicing thin strips for garnishes with their deep purple color, an appealing feature to any dish.
They can also be cooked lightly and eaten with various side dishes, such as sweet potatoes or sweet potato fries.
Hamburger with Beetroot: An Aussie Burger
An Aussie burger is a dish that consists of an Australian-style hamburger patty with beetroot and onion. Beetroots add sweetness while onions offer savory.
Beetroot burgers provide an addition to beef patties that provides more fiber content since it’s made from vegetables rather than meat. Adding chopped beetroot into the mince mixture also makes for a juicy patty.
Not until the 1940s did Australian meat burgers start including beetroot. This is probably due to our close relationship with well-established American eating habits at the time. Still, it wasn’t until recently that we started to see them often in Australia.
Nowadays, if you pass up beetroot on your burger, you will find a few Australians giving you a strange look.
Beetroot Burger Australia: Essential Ingredients for a True Aussie Hamburger
Beet Burger. Credit: canva
Here are the must-have ingredients for a true Aussie burger:
The burger buns
The classic bun choice is white, soft, squishy, and maybe slightly crusty.
Meat patty
The meat patty is a well-done minced beef patty, preferably a little dry. And that’s where the sauce, beetroot, and pineapple come into play.
Beetroot on Burgers
Beetroot is necessary for Aussie burger. You can add chopped beetroot into the mince mixture also makes for a juicy patty.
Alternatively, you can also add pickled or fresh beetroot on the burgers, along with lettuce, tomatoes and onions.
Cheese
A slice of cheddar cheese applies a melting effect to the patty while it’s on the grill.
Sauce
The great Australia hamburger dilemma: barbecue or tomato. Barbecue is sweeter, and a popular choice, but many other Australians prefer the sharper tang of tomato sauce.
The extras
The extras mean “the lot”. It has to have beetroot, egg, pineapple, and bacon.
What Is the Meaning of Aussie Burger with the Lot?
For a burger to have “the lot” it has to have beetroot, egg, pineapple, and bacon. The egg should be fried and runny, and the beetroot and pineapple come straight from the tin. Iceberg lettuce, tomato, and red onion might be involved but aren’t strictly necessary.
Here are what “the lot” includes:
Lettuce, tomato, and cheddar cheese.
Onions, bacon, and a chili mayo sauce.
Grilled pineapple.
A runny fried egg.
Pickled beetroots
As you pile that sturdy bun high with toppings, you might wonder how you will wrap your mouths around the six-inch tower. But, those lot is what makes the best and perfect Aussie beet burgers.
Cut the hamburger buns in half and spread butter on both halves.
Toast the buns on the grill on medium heat.
Fry the burger patties, bacon, and onion.
Flip the patty over and add cheese on top.
Fry the egg (still runny).
Butter the bun and add tomato sauce to taste.
Assemble the hamburger: lettuce, tomato, beetroot, onion, pineapple & the meat patty. Top with bacon, egg, cheese, and bun top.
Australian Beetroot Burger: Spicy and Veggie Recipe
Ingredients:
For the patty:
1 raw beetroot, boiled for 25-30 minutes, and skinned
1 15-ounce can of black beans
1/2 an onion
3 garlic cloves
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 egg
1/2 cup almond meal
3 tablespoons coconut flour
1 tablespoon El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce
1 tablespoon El Yucateco Black Label Reserve Hot Sauce
1 hamburger bun
For the spicy sauce:
4 tablespoon coconut milk
2 tablespoons El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon cumin
Method:
For the patty:
Add the boiled beet, black beans, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper, turmeric powder, and egg to a food processor bowl. Pulse until well blended.
After adding coconut flour and El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce, and El Yucateco Black Label Reserve Hot Sauce, stir to incorporate.
Form into burger shape and grill on a stovetop or grill for 7 – 8 minutes on each side.
For the sauce:
In a saucepan, add some coconut milk and El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce, cayenne, and cumin. Let it simmer for 10 minutes.
Assemble the hamburger:
Prepare the bun, cut it in half, and toast the bun on the grill
Put the beet patty inside the bun.
Top with the sauce and bun top.
FAQs
Can you freeze beetroot burgers?
Yes, you can freeze beet-based leftover burgers. To do this, line a container with baking paper and place the burger on top in an airtight state. Freeze for up to six months before taking out and defrosting at room temperature or in the microwave.
Why do Australians put beetroot on hamburgers?
“Maybe it was our desire not to be Americanized?” ponders Warren Fahey, collector of Australian folklore and author of an Australian food history compendium. “For some reason, the idea of hamburger wrapping stained by beetroot juice was accepted as a sign of a great hamburger.
Are beetroot burgers healthy?
Beetroot burgers are perfect for adding a splash of color to BBQs; they’re both healthy and tasty.
Is beetroot on a burger Australian?
From the 1950s to the 1970s, beetroot became an integral part of the Australian diet before McDonald’s brought out Australia’s “All-Australian” burger in the 1970s. To this day, if you don’t include beetroot on your burger, be sure to find a few Australians giving you strange looks.
What makes an Australian burger?
It’s simple: minced beef, possibly mixed with diced onion, bound with an egg. Well-done is the word for these patties; they’re a little dry by themselves. But look out for them sauce, beetroot, and pineapple!
Do Australians eat a lot of beetroots?
Australians and Americans eat the same types of foods, but for whatever reason, Australians are really into beets. A recent report found that Australians buy 1 kilogram on average three times a month, and they’re called beetroot over there.
Beets are high in oxalates. Eating too many beets might contribute to kidney stone formation in susceptible individuals.
Is beetroot a vegetable?
Yes, it is. Beet is a root vegetable and belongs to the same family as carrots and parsnips. It has been cultivated since ancient times.
Do you need to peel beetroot?
No, you do not have to peel beetroot before eating. However, if you want to remove the skin after cooking, use a paring knife or potato peeler.
Is beetroot good for high blood pressure?
Studies have shown that eating beetroot (beets) can significantly lower blood pressure within just a few hours of consumption! Drinking about two cups of beet juice daily or taking nitrate supplements lowered blood pressure in healthy people.
Is beetroot good for your liver?
Canned beetroots are packed in water, containing no added salt or sugar. They also have a longer shelf life than fresh ones.
What meat goes well with beetroot?
Beetroot is delicious, served alongside pork chops, lamb chops, chicken breast, turkey breast, beef steak, fish fillets, and even tofu.
Is canned beetroot healthy?
Canned beetroots are packed in water, containing no added salt or sugar. They also have a longer shelf life than fresh ones.
How do I cook beetroot from the garden?
You can boil them whole, but we recommend peeling them first. Then cut into wedges and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees F until tender, about 20 minutes.
