In the words of Two Chubby Cubs, “… we’ve taken all the worst bits of a salad (i.e having a salad) and combined it with something delicious and wonderful (i.e. having a cheeseburger)”. Cheeseburger Salad from the ‘Cubs is a novel contradiction which can complement your healthy eating plan at 403 calories per serving.
I think I was tickled more with the concept than by the taste, although I did enjoy it. Making what are effectively mini meatballs during the lunchtime rush whilst working from home seemed a bit of an unnecessary effort. But of course, you can make this the night before. For me, the unexpected star of this show was the suggested home-made Thousand Island dressing which the Cubs state you can make by mixing together 1 tbsp crème fraiche, 1 tbsp reduced-fat mayonnaise, 1 tbsp natural yoghurt, ½ tsp paprika, 2 tsp mustard, 2 tsp tomato puree and 1 tsp white wine vinegar.
If you prefer your salads to have a bit of ‘beef’ to them, check out thai beef salad and chilli salad bowls.
Recipe: Cheeseburger Salad
Calories: 403 per serving
Serves: 4
Book: Two Chubby Cubs – The Cookbook
Prep time: Approx 15 mins
Cooking time: Approx 15 mins
Ingredients:
- 500g lean beef mince
- 4 x 40g slices of reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
- 1 large onion (sliced)
- 1 iceberg lettuce (chopped)
- 4 large tomatoes (cut into chunks)
- 20 gherkins (sliced)
- 4 tablespoons reduced-fat Thousand island dressing
Cost per portion: Approx £1.40
Method:
Divide the beef mince into 4 portions. Roll each one into a ball, then squash down into a rough burger shape.
Heat a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and spray with a little oil. Fry the burgers for 3-4 minutes, then flip them over and top each one with a slice of cheese. Fry for a further 3-4 minutes, them remove to plate the rest. Add the onion to the pan and fry for 7-8 minutes.
Fill 4 bowls or plates with the chopped lettuce, topped with tomato chunks, gherkins and fried onions.
Roughly chop the burgers and add them to the bowls. Drizzle over a tablespoon per bowl of the Thousand Island dressing, and eat.
Flatten Your Curves 