Burgers with Roasted Tomatoes and Pesto

in Beef, Burgers & Sliders, Cookouts & Picnics, On the grill, Pesto, Summer Tomatoes

Looks like summer. Feels like summer. Tastes like summer. That pretty much sums up this burger. And our weekend.

After weeks of cursing at begging and pleading with the basil plants to do something, they did.

And that something was EXPLODE.

Fresh basil

Not in the literal sense, obviously. Although a backyard full of sweet, purple, and elephant basil-scented confetti would smell a whole lot better than chlorine and the new mulch that kind of smells like a hamster cage when it rains.

So I made pesto. (2 1/2 cups of pesto!) And then I slathered it on burgers with tomatoes from the garden that I had slow-roasted and a thick slice of fresh mozzarella cheese. And I served that along size grilled zucchini & red onions – zucchini that I remembered to pick before it reached baseball bat size. (I’m 3 for 3!)

And that is truly the most satisfying thing about gardening. To be able to look down at your dinner plate and say: I grew that, I grew that, I made that, and I almost didn’t burn those.

Burgers with Roasted Tomatoes, Pesto, and Mozzarella

Pesto, roasted tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella: summer's best trio of flavors in burger form.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef (or turkey)
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 burger buns
  • Pesto, purchased or homemade
  • Roasted tomatoes
  • 3 slices of fresh mozzarella

Instructions

  1. Heat grill to high.
  2. Season ground beef with salt, pepper, and a few dashes of worcestershire sauce and form into 3 patties.
  3. Grill 7-8 minutes (or to desired doneness), flipping halfway through.
  4. Turn off the grill, place a slice of cheese on each burger, and close the grill for a minute to melt the cheese.
  5. Place burger buns on the grill for ~1 minute, just until toasted.
  6. Spread pesto on the buns and top with a patty, a handful of roasted tomatoes.

Notes

Yields: 3 servings

Source: Confections of a Foodie Bride

Estimated time: 20 minutes

17 comments… add one
  • What a fabulous burger! Yum!

  • Anything with tomatoes and pesto is a yes for me! Looks delicious (:

  • My basil plants were wimpy for the longest time. They decided to do something finally! Your collection of burgers look delicious! Time to break out the grill. :0)

  • I’m so jealous and simultaneously excited about your garden! What a way to really kick off the season!

  • This looks fantastic and definitely screams summer. Here’s hoping that your basil plants keep it up!

  • This looks amazing–I have an Italian sausage burger in the works for tomorrow. Bring on summer!

  • I cannot WAIT to make this!

  • Whoa mama, look at all that basil! Ours is growing like a weed too – I love it! These burgers are an awesome idea for using it for something other than caprese. Super yummy!

  • Burgers are the epitome of Summer to me. I havent stopped eating them since the weather warmed up. THis flavor combo is definitely next, these sound amazing.

  • An explosion of basil?! Lucky you! I can’t grow any kind of plants at my apt.

    And dude, can I help with these burgers? They look massive! And you’ve incorporated all of my favorite toppings!

  • This is looks a combo meal for me cause I’m a fan of food that uses tomatoes and pesto. Looks delish.

  • Stacey

    You have to try it with a few slices of salami thrown in there. Trust me.

  • This burger is just unreal. I feel like it is calling my name.

  • Gorgeous! I’m growing basil too (but not nearly as much…yet!) These burgers look heavenly. I think I’m going to change dinner plans for tomorrow night and make a batch of these instead. Thank you for sharing! I’m glad I found your blog 🙂

  • All my favorite flavors sitting on top of my strongest craving…I’d say this needs to be dinner one night this week!

  • Ah I loved this recipe.. I combined it with your Jalapeno Cheddar burger buns! It was completely overboard and my husband loved it! It’s so gorgeous too with the bright colours!

    Thanks so much!

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