Country: Dominican Republic Servings: Serves 4

Ingredients

• ground beef – 1.5 lbs / 680 g
• garlic – 3 cloves, minced
• onion – 1 small, finely chopped
• cilantro – 1/4 cup / 15 g, chopped
• parsley – 1/2 cup / 30 g, chopped
• olive oil – 1/4 cup / 60 ml
• white vinegar – 2 tbsp / 30 ml
• red chili flakes – 1 tsp / 5 g
• black pepper – 1 tsp / 5 g
• salt – 1 tsp / 5 g
• cumin – 1/2 tsp / 2.5 g
• romaine lettuce – 4 leaves
• tomato – 1 large, sliced
• burger buns – 4 whole

Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine ground beef, minced garlic, chopped onion, salt, black pepper, and cumin. Mix well and form into 4 patties.
2. Preheat a grill or skillet over medium-high heat and cook the patties for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until desired doneness is reached.
3. For the chimichurri sauce, in another bowl mix cilantro, parsley, olive oil, white vinegar, and red chili flakes until well combined.
4. Assemble the burgers by placing a lettuce leaf and a slice of tomato on the bottom half of each bun, then add a cooked beef patty, top with a generous spoonful of chimichurri sauce, and cover with the top half of the bun.

Substitutions

• ground beef -> ground turkey or chicken
• olive oil -> canola oil or avocado oil
• white vinegar -> apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

Enhancements in the Next Evolution

• Marinate the beef patties with spices for extra flavor.
• Add cheese slices for a rich texture.
• Use brioche buns for a sweeter taste.