Recall Alert: Watch Out for Hostess Hot Dogs & Hamburger Buns

Labor Day is just around the corner, which means that millions of Americans will be stocking up on burger patties, sausages, bags of chips, patriotic desserts, crisp lagers, and sparklers. But if you already purchased some hot dog and hamburger buns for the holiday, you may want to check the label. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Hostess Cake has issued a voluntary recall of their Soft White Hamburger Buns and Soft White Hot Dog Buns, as they may be contaminated with salmonella and listeria, two different forms of bacteria that can both cause foodborne illness. The company first announced the recall on August 13th, 2021 and has not learned of any illnesses related to the recall at this time. The bacteria was detected during a routine monitoring of the food production facility.

Fear not—no other Hostess products, including beloved nostalgic treats like Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, Donettes, or Honey Buns, were included in the recall.

Read More >>

Labor Day is just around the corner, which means that millions of Americans will be stocking up on burger patties, sausages, bags of chips, patriotic desserts, crisp lagers, and sparklers. But if you already purchased some hot dog and hamburger buns for the holiday, you may want to check the label. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Hostess Cake has issued a voluntary recall of their Soft White Hamburger Buns and Soft White Hot Dog Buns, as they may be contaminated with salmonella and listeria, two different forms of bacteria that can both cause foodborne illness. The company first announced the recall on August 13th, 2021 and has not learned of any illnesses related to the recall at this time. The bacteria was detected during a routine monitoring of the food production facility.

Fear not—no other Hostess products, including beloved nostalgic treats like Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, Donettes, or Honey Buns, were included in the recall.

Read More >>

The Best Cheese for Cheeseburgers, Period

That Cheese Plate is a column by cookbook author, photographer, and former Food52 Resident Marissa Mullen. With Marissa’s expertise in all things cheddar, comté, and crudité—plus tips for how to make it all look extra special, using stuff you probably …

That Cheese Plate is a column by cookbook author, photographer, and former Food52 Resident Marissa Mullen. With Marissa's expertise in all things cheddar, comté, and crudité—plus tips for how to make it all look extra special, using stuff you probably have on hand—we'll be crafting our own cheesy masterpieces without a hitch. In this edition, Marissa shared her thoughts on the best possible cheese to melt on a burger, inspired by the Absolute Best Tests column.


It was in 1934 that the term “cheeseburger” was first coined, on the menu at Kaelin’s restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky. They topped a patty with American cheese in the hopes of adding a “new tang to the hamburger,” and this now-classic staple would soon appear everywhere from diners to backyards, all across the U.S. Over the years, the cheeseburger has morphed from its humble origins—sometimes so much that the folks at Kaelin’s probably wouldn’t recognize it as the same dish. Restaurants love to experiment with various toppings and condiments, from sautéed mushrooms and crispy onions to aioli and pickle relish, to transform the traditional cheeseburger into something new. At the core, however, the cheeseburger always relies on a ground beef base and gooey cheese topping.

Read More >>

Our 19 Favorite Ground Beef Recipes

When it comes to dinnertime, a pound of ground beef can be the start of something great. I’m thinking meatballs floating in tomato-butter sauce or minestrone soup (or even grape jelly—don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!). Or maybe smash burgers slathe…

When it comes to dinnertime, a pound of ground beef can be the start of something great. I’m thinking meatballs floating in tomato-butter sauce or minestrone soup (or even grape jelly—don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!). Or maybe smash burgers slathered with ketchup and mustard, shatteringly crisp lumpia, spicy kebabs wrapped tightly in chapati, a steaming bowl of chili with a skillet of cornbread on the side. Whichever direction your taste buds are sending you, these ground beef recipes will feed a crowd.

Some of these recipes are takes on classic dishes that swap in grains or vegetarian protein for some of the beef. And even if you’re not a meat eater at all (but have somehow found yourself reading this, a roundup of ground beef recipes), there are still options. Swap in a ground faux meat like Impossible or Beyond, which both make vegan ground “beef” offerings that would work relatively seamlessly in any of these 19 ground beef recipes.

Read More >>

A Guide to Cheese & Condiments For Summer Meals

I consider both cheese and condiments to be essential when it comes to elevating a summer spread. Whether I’m making a cheese plate or a more formal meal, I always try to make sure sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami notes are present in the cheeses …

I consider both cheese and condiments to be essential when it comes to elevating a summer spread. Whether I’m making a cheese plate or a more formal meal, I always try to make sure sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami notes are present in the cheeses and condiments I put out: together, they make for a party on the taste buds. Try these 5 cheese and condiment pairings for a future summer cheese board, sandwich, or hot-off-the-grill dish.

1. Taleggio & Grainy Mustard

Photo by Marissa Mullen

Taleggio is a wash-rind cow’s milk cheese from Italy, notable for its creamy texture, orange exterior, and pungent aroma. Although Taleggio’s smell can be potent, its flavor is mild and buttery with a fruity tang. I love the combination of taleggio with a whole grain mustard, especially on something super-savory, like a hot dog. Cover a hot dog bun with room temperature taleggio, followed by a thin layer of mustard. The savory juices from the hot dog complement the pungent cheese, while the mustard cuts through with a tangy finish.

Read More >>

Classic Salmon Burgers

Here’s the salmon burgers recipe you need! They’re easy and have the best flavor: each bite is perfection slathered with remoulade sauce. Here’s an impressive dinner idea that’s calling your name: this irresistible Salmon Burgers recipe! These burgers are so deliciously satisfying, we’re kicking ourselves this hasn’t been part of our dinnertime repertoire until now. Each bite is hearty and juicy, topped with a creamy remoulade sauce that takes it to rockstar status. This is a great way to feel like you’re eating red meat, without the meat! It’s every bit as satisfying, we think. The keys to great salmon burgers Salmon burgers are a great healthy alterative to red meat. Or if you’re someone like us, they’re a splurge to compliment our 90% plant-based diet! We’d resigned ourselves to veggie burgers forever, until this salmon burger came along. Our entire family gave it 5 stars! Here’s what to know about making this salmon burger recipe: You’ll use raw salmon. No need to pre-cook it! You can use any type of salmon, though of course the better the salmon the better the flavor (see below). A food processor is handy, but a knife works too! Whiz the dough to get […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Here’s the salmon burgers recipe you need! They’re easy and have the best flavor: each bite is perfection slathered with remoulade sauce.

Salmon burger recipe

Here’s an impressive dinner idea that’s calling your name: this irresistible Salmon Burgers recipe! These burgers are so deliciously satisfying, we’re kicking ourselves this hasn’t been part of our dinnertime repertoire until now. Each bite is hearty and juicy, topped with a creamy remoulade sauce that takes it to rockstar status. This is a great way to feel like you’re eating red meat, without the meat! It’s every bit as satisfying, we think.

The keys to great salmon burgers

Salmon burgers are a great healthy alterative to red meat. Or if you’re someone like us, they’re a splurge to compliment our 90% plant-based diet! We’d resigned ourselves to veggie burgers forever, until this salmon burger came along. Our entire family gave it 5 stars! Here’s what to know about making this salmon burger recipe:

  • You’ll use raw salmon. No need to pre-cook it! You can use any type of salmon, though of course the better the salmon the better the flavor (see below).
  • A food processor is handy, but a knife works too! Whiz the dough to get the right texture: or you can use a knife to finely chop.
  • Refrigerate before cooking. Firming the burgers for 15 minutes does wonders for the texture.
  • Pan fry for 5 minutes per side. Then it’s a quick pan fry in healthy olive oil. It comes out lightly crispy on the outside and browned to perfection.
Salmon burger recipe

Best salmon to buy

One think we like about this salmon burgers recipe: because you’re adding seasoning and shaping it into patties, you don’t need the most expensive, beautiful fillet. You can get away with lower quality salmon in a burger! But like any recipe, the better the raw ingredients the better the flavor. Here’s what we’d recommend for this recipe:

  • Fresh salmon is best. You can find decent frozen salmon. But for the very best salmon, buy it fresh from your local seafood counter.
  • Buy wild caught salmon. Wild caught is the way to go! It’s most sustainable and has the best flavor. Avoid Atlantic salmon as it is typically farmed salmon.

Salmon burger sauce ideas!

Once you’ve cooked up your salmon burger, pair it with a tasty and delicious sauce for maximum deliciousness! Here we’ve gone classic with a traditional Remoulade Sauce. But there are so many options, each with a different vibe. Salmon burger sauce ideas to try are:

  1. Remoulade sauce, a traditional French and Cajun mayo-based sauce (our top pick!)
  2. Tartar sauce, a common seafood sauce
  3. Lemon dill sauce, for a Mediterranean spin
  4. Creamy cilantro sauce, a zingy dairy-free option
  5. Cilantro lime ranch, a creamy cilantro-based ranch
  6. Dill sauce or Cucumber sauce, Greek-yogurt based Mediterranean sauces
  7. Spicy mayo, mayo with zing
  8. Special burger sauce, all your favorite condiments in one
Salmon burger sauce
Remoulade is the ideal salmon burger sauce

Salmon burger toppings

Once you pick a sauce, you can customize your salmon burger toppings to go with the theme. There are so many great ideas, so we’ve got a separate list going! Here’s what we used, and a few more ideas:

What’s panko?

These salmon burgers use panko to hold them together. Not used to working with this ingredient? Here’s what to know:

  • Panko is a Japanese-style breadcrumb mixture that is airier and lighter than traditional breadcrumbs. We like using panko because it’s light and crunchy, and makes a great texture.
  • Need a substitute? You can use coarse breadcrumbs or even homemade breadcrumbs.
  • Is all you can find regular breadcrumbs? Use only 1/2 cup instead of 3/4 cup panko, because regular breadcrumbs are very finely ground.
Salmon burger

How to make this recipe gluten-free

Can you make these salmon burgers free? Yes. Here’s what to do:

  • Look for gluten-free panko or breadcrumbs in stores or online. It’s pretty easy to find these days!
  • Try a gluten free breadcrumb substitute like rolled oats or crushed gluten free crackers.
  • Use a gluten free bun, or try these bread substitutes.

What to serve with a salmon burger

Want to make it a meal? Here’s what we’d serve with these tasty salmon burgers to make them a meal:

Salmon burger toppings
Try salmon burger toppings like guacamole and pico de gallo

This salmon burgers recipe is…

Pescatarian and dairy-free. For gluten free, see the notes above.

Print
Salmon burger recipe

*Best* Salmon Burger Recipe


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (10 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes (+15 minutes chill)
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 burgers

Description

Here’s the salmon burgers recipe you need! They’re easy and have the best flavor: each bite is perfection slathered with remoulade sauce. 


Ingredients

  • 1 pound salmon, skin and bones removed
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley or cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon capers, drained
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup panko or coarse breadcrumbs (gluten free if desired)*
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, for cooking
  • 1/2 cup Remoulade Sauce or another salmon burger sauce (see above)
  • For serving: Bun, red onion, tomato, lettuce

Instructions

  1. Cut the raw salmon into chunks. Add it to a food processor with parsley or cilantro, capers, onion powder and kosher salt. Pulse 8 to 10 times until roughly chopped; be careful not to over-process. (Alternatively, chop everything with a large chef’s knife until it has a uniformly roughly chopped texture.) Remove blade and stir in the panko, Dijon mustard and mayonnaise (you can do this in either the bowl of the food processor or transfer to a bowl). 
  2. Form the dough into 4 burger shapes that are about 3/4 inch thick. Refrigerate 15 minutes to firm up the texture (or up to 24 hours). While the burgers rest, make the Remoulade Sauce.
  3. When ready to cook, heat the olive oil in skillet over medium high heat. Add the burgers and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until browned, then flip and cook another 4 to 5 minutes or until the inside registers 130 degrees Fahrenheit on a food thermometer. You can also grill the burgers on medium high heat for the same amount of time. 
  4. Serve on a bun garnished lettuce, tomato, red onion, and Remoulade Sauce or other salmon burger sauce. Make ahead and storage: Store refrigerated up to 2 days, or wrap in freezer safe wrapping and freeze up to 3 months. Allow to defrost in the refrigerator the night before cooking. 

Notes

*If all you can find is regular breadcrumbs, use 1/2 cup since they are much finer ground than panko. 

  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Seafood

Keywords: Salmon burger recipe, Salmon burger sauce

More favorite salmon recipes

Salmon is one of our top choices when it comes to fish and seafood! Here are a few more salmon recipes to enjoy:

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Chipotle Burgers

Chipotle Burgers are served on a toasty bun and topped with avocado, Pepper Jack cheese, and a special chipotle sauce. Guaranteed to be everyone’s new favorite grilled burger. Chipotle Burgers take your regular hamburgers and add adobo sauce and chipot…

Chipotle Burgers are served on a toasty bun and topped with avocado, Pepper Jack cheese, and a special chipotle sauce. Guaranteed to be everyone’s new favorite grilled burger. Chipotle Burgers take your regular hamburgers and add adobo sauce and chipotle peppers for an incredible, smoky flavor that’s made even better by some time on the…

The post Chipotle Burgers appeared first on Two Peas & Their Pod.

Wait—Have We Been Grilling Burgers All Wrong?

There is perhaps no dish more quintessentially American than the hamburger. Like most other foods, its creator and origin are up for debate, yet the hamburger is, without a doubt, solidly stitched into the fabric of everything that is Americana.

Sure,…

There is perhaps no dish more quintessentially American than the hamburger. Like most other foods, its creator and origin are up for debate, yet the hamburger is, without a doubt, solidly stitched into the fabric of everything that is Americana.

Sure, there are bad burgers out there. And dare I say, they are still satisfying. Great burgers, though? They can be prophetic.

Read More >>

Falafel Burger

This insanely good falafel burger is easy to make and bursting with Mediterranean flavor! Smother in sauce for an epic vegetarian or vegan dinner. Oh hello. Meet our favorite vegetarian and vegan dinner recipe: the Falafel Burger! We don’t always have the energy to fry up a batch of authentic falafel. So eating it in burger form is the next best thing! These are easy to make with canned chickpeas. The combination of a cumin and coriander-scented chickpea patty with cool cucumber sauce and all the fixin’s is pretty darn epic. It’s a healthy vegetarian and vegan dinner recipe that everyone loves. Why make falafel burgers? These falafel burgers are much easier to whip up than our classic falafel sandwich. That sandwich is full of beautiful, authentic flavor: but it does require some thinking ahead. This one is a little easier! Here’s why to make falafel in burger form: You can use canned chickpeas! No need to soak dried chickpeas overnight. This means you can make it with little to no advanced planning (a big plus in our book). Easy to shape. The patties are much easier to shape than the balls with traditional falafel: and you only have to […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This insanely good falafel burger is easy to make and bursting with Mediterranean flavor! Smother in sauce for an epic vegetarian or vegan dinner.

Falafel burger

Oh hello. Meet our favorite vegetarian and vegan dinner recipe: the Falafel Burger! We don’t always have the energy to fry up a batch of authentic falafel. So eating it in burger form is the next best thing! These are easy to make with canned chickpeas. The combination of a cumin and coriander-scented chickpea patty with cool cucumber sauce and all the fixin’s is pretty darn epic. It’s a healthy vegetarian and vegan dinner recipe that everyone loves.

Why make falafel burgers?

These falafel burgers are much easier to whip up than our classic falafel sandwich. That sandwich is full of beautiful, authentic flavor: but it does require some thinking ahead. This one is a little easier! Here’s why to make falafel in burger form:

  • You can use canned chickpeas! No need to soak dried chickpeas overnight. This means you can make it with little to no advanced planning (a big plus in our book).
  • Easy to shape. The patties are much easier to shape than the balls with traditional falafel: and you only have to make four!
  • No messy frying! Authentic falafel requires frying, which can be a little tricky. These falafel burgers need just a quick and easy fry with a drizzle of oil, then they’re finished in the oven.
Best falafel burger

Ingredients in falafel burgers

This falafel burger is a great healthy dinner idea when you’re cooking for many diets! It’s vegetarian and vegan, and you can make it gluten-free by using gluten-free flour. Here’s what you need to make a killer falafel burger:

  • Canned chickpeas: you can also use cooked chickpeas (try our stovetop or Instant Pot methods)
  • Carrot
  • Red onion
  • Garlic
  • Cilantro or parsley, if you have a cilantro aversion!
  • Flour (or gluten-free flour)
  • Spices: Cumin, coriander, salt and pepper
  • Neutral oil
Cucumber sauce

Use a food processor or make them by hand

The main idea behind these falafel burgers: puree the ingredients to make a “dough”, form into patties, lightly pan fry them, then bake. There are two options for making the dough:

  • Food processor: This is our preferred method because it’s quick and easy. We have a large-sized food processor, which works great for a single or double batch (more about doubling it below).
  • By hand: You can also make the falafel burgers by hand if you don’t have a food processor. It takes a little longer, but you’ll mash the chickpeas with a fork, then grate all the vegetables.

Falafel sauce: 3 options!

There are several falafel sauce options that are authentic for serving with falafel. There are options for both vegetarian and vegan diets! Here’s a little breakdown:

  • Yogurt sauce: This yogurt-based Cucumber Sauce or Dill Sauce are quick and easy to whip up, and traditionally served on a falafel sandwich.
  • Tahini sauce: This Lemon Tahini Sauce is vegan and plant-based, and also traditional for serving with falafel. You could also add some chopped fresh dill for an herby punch.
  • Cilantro sauce: A green Cilantro Sauce is also traditional! This one is made with cashews and is another vegan option. Zhoug is another green sauce made with olive oil and herbs that’s served with falafel in Israel.
Tahini sauce
Lemon Tahini Sauce is a great vegan falafel sauce

Make a double batch: they refrigerate and freeze well!

The great thing about these falafel burgers is that they store very well! Consider making a double batch and saving them for easy meals. Since they take about 45 minutes start to finish, we like to double it so we have leftovers. Here’s storage info for falafel burgers:

  • Refrigerate for up to 1 week. You can reheat in a 350 degree oven if you’d like, or eat them cold or room temperature.
  • Freeze for up to 3 months. The freeze well! Just thaw in the refrigerator or reheat in a 350 degree oven.
How to make a falafel burger

What to serve with falafel burgers?

Making a meal to impress a crowd and need some sides for these falafel burgers? Here’s what we’d recommend:

This falafel burger recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free. For gluten-free, use gluten-free flour and serve without a bun or with a GF bun.

Print
Falafel burger

Epic Falafel Burger


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This insanely good falafel burger is easy to make and bursting with Mediterranean flavor! Smother in sauce for an epic vegetarian or vegan dinner.


Ingredients

For the falafel burgers (double to make leftovers*)

  • 15-ounce can chickpeas (1 1/2 cups cooked)
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 1 large carrot
  • ½ red onion
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, loosely packed (or parsley)
  • 6 tablespoons flour (or gluten-free flour)
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons coriander
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons grapeseed or vegetable oil (for frying)

For serving


Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Dab the chickpeas with a paper towel to remove extra moisture, then place them in the bowl of a food processor. Add the sesame seeds, then process until a paste-like consistency is formed. (If you don’t have a food processor, use a potato masher or fork to mash them in a bowl until they’re mostly mashed.) Scrape the mixture into a bowl.
  3. Add the carrot, red onion, garlic, and cilantro to the bowl of the food processor; pulse until finely ground. (If you don’t have a food processor, use a large size grater to grate the onion and carrot, then finely grate the garlic and finely chop the cilantro.) Scrape the vegetables into the bowl with the chickpeas.
  4. Stir in the flour, cumin, coriander, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix with a spoon until combined, then form 4 round patties and place them on a baking sheet.
  5. In a medium frying pan, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium heat. Carefully add the patties to the pan. If you have one, top with a splatter screen. Fry for about 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown on one side. Flip and fry for another 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown, turning down the heat as necessary.
  6. Transfer the patties to a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and baked through. Remove the patties from the oven and let them cool for at least 15 minutes to firm up.
  7. Meanwhile, make the falafel sauce. To serve, place on a bun with tomato, cucumber, red onion, and lettuce, and top with sauce. The burgers save well in the refrigerator for 1 week, so they’re great to make ahead and eat throughout the week. They also freeze well!

Notes

*It’s easy to make 8 and freeze the rest for eating later: they also save well refrigerated for up to 1 week. Just double everything!

  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keywords: Falafel burger

More veggie burger recipes

Veggie burgers are so satisfying! Here are a few more veggie burger recipes to try:

Falafel burger

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Our 17 Best Burger Recipes for Your Summer Rotation

We’ve partnered with St Pierre—makers of buttery-soft brioche buns perfect for grilling season—to share some of our favorite burger recipes of all time. Snag a pack (or many!) of their brioche buns in the deli or bakery section of your local supermarke…

We've partnered with St Pierre—makers of buttery-soft brioche buns perfect for grilling season—to share some of our favorite burger recipes of all time. Snag a pack (or many!) of their brioche buns in the deli or bakery section of your local supermarket, or use their handy store locator here.


Few summer eats are better than a freshly grilled burger, piled high with your favorite toppings and sandwiched between two soft brioche buns (their fluffy texture and just-right sweetness is the ultimate complement to all those juicy, savory flavors).

Read More >>