Best primal burgers

I am updating my progress during my primal challenge on my page 30 Day Primal Challenge so be sure to check back there if you’re interested.

I love burgers and for a while after giving up gluten I thought they would never be as good. Then I embraced the grass fed burger, good quality grass fed beef makes a burger like no other. Now I realize the star is wonderful beef, not gluten filled bland high GI bread. Adding your favorite toppings makes it that much better, serving it with a salad or cooked veggies just makes it that much healthier!

This makes 4 burgers and takes about 15 minutes.

1 pound ground beef
1/2-1 T. Chili powder
1 t. Cumin
Salt and pepper to taste

Lettuce leaves (2-3 for each burger)
Mustard
Pickle
Whatever you like on a burger….

Break apart the ground beef on a plate, sprinkle the seasoning over the meat then using your hands work the meat to mix in the seasoning (take care not to over work it, don’t make goo). Divide the meat into 4 patties, flatten then to about 1/2 inch thickness each. Take your thumb and press into the center of each, this will make the centers about 1/4 inch thick. (come on trust me on this one!) Now heat up a cast iron pan, most valuable tool in the kitchen, over medium high heat. You want a nice hot pan, as it heats up add a bit of bacon fat for more flavor. You can also cook these on a bar-b-que but it’s so wet here in the northwest that indoors works better for us.

When pan is nice and hot place the patties divot side up in the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes on this side, trying not to move them because the hot cast iron is forming a crust. Setting a timer is usually best for this step, so your not tempted to turn them too early. After 3-4 minutes flip the burgers and allow to cook for another 3-4 minutes depending on how done you like your burgers. If you want a cheeseburger then lay a slice of cheese on the patty during the last 2 minutes. These times are estimates so use common sense, if it looks like they are burning then flip them and note the times it takes for you to cook them to your liking.

While the burger is cooking grab out the plates you will be eating from and place 2 lettuce leaves down to place the patty on. At this point you can start adding condiments or wait to place them on the burger. After the burger is decorated to your liking grab a fork and knife and chow down!