Is it possible for a meal to have an origin story? If so this may be one of the funniest. Well not funny ha ha but funny as in strange? Interesting? Weird?
Ok, maybe it's not funny at all but I'm going to tell you anyway.
First, you have to know that
I post 2 Laughing Cow cheese ideas a month. It's part of my responsibilities as a Community Leader. Well, August is coming to an end and I still needed one more cheese recipe.
I've been experimenting with a few things but nothing was coming out quite the way I wanted. Then today an idea for a cheesy grilled french onion burger popped into my head. The French Onion Laughing Cow…
is one of my favorites so I thought about sautéing some sweet onion, adding in some of the cheese and then topping a burger with it.
Doesn't that sounds yummy?
Well, when I started to make lunch today I realized I only had 2 burger patties in the freezer. Not enough for the 3 of us.
Ok, how about a cheesy sweet onion turkey burger? I'll make the beef ones for the boys and a turkey patty for me. I happened to have ground turkey meat defrosted for taco night this weekend. I could easily steal 3-4 ounces for my burger.
Then I opened the fridge and saw the small eggplant I got from the farm last week. I should have taken a picture of it. It was so cute and pitiful sitting there with no hopes of being eaten. At least I didn't have plans to eat it. I never quite know what to do with eggplant, especially when I have just a small one.
Then it hit me! Instead of a turkey burger why don't I grill a thick slice of eggplant. Oh! and instead of sautéing the onion why don't I grill that to? Then I can just smear the cheese right on? That could work, right?
Well it did work and it was DELICIOUS!
Here's what I did, sorry for the long winded intro but I had to share the story. It really is funny how I end up making what I make sometimes.
Ingredients
- 1 thick slice of eggplant (about ½ inch)
- 1 slice of red onion (about ¼ inch)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Kosher Salt
- 1 Wedge of The Laughing Cow Light French Onion
- 1 Whole Wheat English muffin or bun of your choice that's about as wide as your eggplant slice.
- Handful of raw spinach leaves
Instructions
Rub the olive oil on the eggplant and onion slice. Sprinkle both sides with a bit of kosher salt.
Grill over a medium flame for about 4-5 minutes a side until the eggplant softens and grill marks form. I like my eggplant soft, you can adjust times to suite your taste, there's no fear of rare meat with an eggplant burger.
Once the eggplant is almost done to your liking, dollop the Wedge of The Laughing Cow Light French Onion cheese on top. I was only making one so I used the whole wedge, I can see sharing the wedge across 2 burgers but since I only had one, I also topped the onion.
Close the grill and let the cheese warm up. It's not going to melt since it's more a cream cheese style cheese than a slice but it will still warm and get squishier.
At this time I also toasted my "bun" on the grill.
Remove the eggplant and onion and stack with some spinach leaves on the English muffin.
I severed with a side of roasted Brussels sprouts. It was a super light veggie filled lunch!
Disclosure: I've partnered with The Laughing Cow. Click here for more info and click here to see all my ideas using the Laughing Cow!
📖 Recipe
The French Onion Eggplant and Red Onion Cheese "Burger"
Ingredients
- 1 thick slice of eggplant about ½ inch
- 1 slice of red onion about ¼ inch
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Kosher Salt
- 1 Wedge of The Laughing Cow Light French Onion
- 1 Whole Wheat English muffin or bun of your choice that's about as wide as your eggplant slice.
- Handful of raw spinach leaves
Instructions
- Rub the olive oil on the eggplant and onion slice. Sprinkle both sides with a bit of kosher salt.1 thick slice of eggplant, 1 slice of red onion, 1 teaspoon olive oil, Kosher Salt
- Grill over a medium flame for about 4-5 minutes a side until the eggplant softens and grill marks form. I like my eggplant soft, you can adjust times to suite your taste, there's no fear of rare meat with an eggplant burger.
- Once the eggplant is almost done to your liking, dollop the Wedge of The Laughing Cow Light French Onion cheese on top. I was only making one so I used the whole wedge, I can see sharing the wedge across 2 burgers but since I only had one, I also topped the onion.1 Wedge of The Laughing Cow Light French Onion
- Close the grill and let the cheese warm up. It's not going to melt since it's more a cream cheese style cheese than a slice but it will still warm and get squishier.
- At this time I also toasted my "bun" on the grill.
- Remove the eggplant and onion and stack with some spinach leaves on the English muffin.1 Whole Wheat English muffin or bun of your choice that's about as wide as your eggplant slice., Handful of raw spinach leaves
Kippi Fortunato
Yummo! I have been following your site for about six years (I think)!!! My 10 year old daughter and I made this today! We both loved it. I am also a WW lifetimer. Thanks for continuing to do all the hard work and sharing all of your awesome recipes. --Kippi.
Ps. I am a visual leaner so all of the pictures are great!
April
I have never enjoyed eggplant as much as I enjoyed it in this burger. I do not have a grill so used the stove. I don't think it took anything away from the taste...and that cheese with it? Oh my! Good. I hope you plan on posting some more eggplant recipes. For years I have made it one of two ways. It is so nice to have more options. This would make a good meatless Monday option. (I do not consider cheese meat) for anyone looking for something for Meatless Monday.
Melody Scott
Oh, I miss Brussels Sprouts! The rest of your post sounded good, but when you said Brussels Sprouts, that's when I really started salivating! Can't get 'em in Mexico, can't import them from the US, and this Canadian gal misses the little green gems!
I thought I'd give you a really quick rundown on a recipe I did this weekend that I found really good, and lowfat. I took 2 potatoes and dice them small, about a 1/4 inch. I put a good shot of cooking spray in a big non-stick pan and cooked them till they were done through and a bit brown and crispy. Then I gave the pan another shot of cooking spray and a tbsp of god curry powder, and mixed it in well. Then I added minced garlic and grated ginger, a small cabbage which I'd sliced thin and one tomato diced into quarter-inch squares. Cooked till cabbage was a bit soft and served as a side dish. It was pretty wonderful.
Marla
YUM!!
nancy
Oooops is this even on your bucket list--more cookbooks??
nancy
Oh I like the stories that go with the recipes--it adds a bit of flavor to the recipe. You will soon need to bring out book 2 to your cookbook line with all the good recipes you are coming up with!!
roni
Thanks so much Barbara!
Barbara
I am constantly in awe of your posts.....the magnificent pictures, the creative ideas and your sense of humor! Keep creating and letting us share your healthy lifestyle!
Barbara