There's not much that beats a good burger. By making some conscious choices when assembling ingredients, you can make a burger healthy, too. Here are some ideas below, but try your ideas to make it your own.
Ingredients:
1 whole butternut pumpkin/squash
Lettuce/rocket for dressing
Free range mayonnaise
Hot sauce/wasabi paste/chipotle or chilli powder/crushed garlic
Smoked paprika
Neutral oil
Onion powder (optional)
Garlic powder (optional)
Swiss cheese slices
Burger buns
Method:
Preheat oven to 200C.
Prepare the pumpkin by slicing whole, 1.5cm thick slices, making 6-8 rounds of pumpkin (depending on its size). In a bowl, add the pumpkin, cover with a tablespoon of oil, salt, pepper, a teaspoon of garlic and onion powder (if using) and a tablespoon of smoked paprika. Using your hands, rub the marinade into the pumpkin.
On a lined baking tray, add the pumpkin slices so they're not overlapping. Reserve the marinade left in the bowl, and place the tray in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the slices begin to colour.
Remove from the oven, and baste with the remaining marinade. Turn each slice over and return to the oven for a further 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.
Alternatively, cook both sides for 5 minutes less each side, remove from the oven and place on a sizzling hot BBQ griddle for 3 minutes each side for more smoked flavour and lovely charring.
Meanwhile, make a spiced mayonnaise by combining a few tablespoons of mayo with a teaspoon of your favourite hot sauce or chilli powder. Wasabi paste is delicious here, as is a crushed garlic clove. Add salt to taste. Set aside.
Assemble your burgers by toasting each bun (perfect if you're using the BBQ to finish the pumpkin steaks), adding a spread of mayo, a slice or two of pumpkin, cheese slices, lettuce or rocket, and more mayo.