In the bygone days of my youth, it was a real treat when Dad took us to the Dubl R Drive-in Restaurant. He had an old Ford Fairlane back then (1959 model I think), and I can still see the carhops delivering our order on special trays that we would hang from our rolled-down window. I was a real picky eater back then, but I liked burgers and fries – a lot. And I loved ice cream, milk shakes, sodas and floats. In short, I loved all the stuff that wasn’t good for you, but I HATED vegetables. I’m glad I eventually grew out of that phase. Hating vegetables, I mean – I still crave stuff that’s not really good for me.
Me and the Ford Fairlane
The Dubl R is still fondly remembered by many today (me included) for its onion rings – sweet hand dipped creations served hot and crispy. Ahh, the days before we cared about our cholesterol levels! The Dubl R also had great milk shakes, as well as some specialty burgers. I liked the Pizza Burger, but my wife remembers eating the Greek Burgers there, and loving them.
I have no idea how they were made, or exactly what they tasted like, but I’ve come up with a modern, albeit slimmed-down creation that we like a lot. The onions and peppers help keep the extra-lean beef moist. Beware of increasing the amount of the veggies or the burgers will fall apart. Cheese would make them more authentic, but we like them without.
Greek Burgers
A Happy Acres Original
1 lb lean ground round
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup green pepper, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed (see note)
1/2 tsp oregano, dried
1/2 tsp greek seasoning
4 hamburger buns, whole wheat
1. Mix first 6 ingredients together, form into 4 patties. Grill or broil 8-10 minutes, until done.
2. Serve on toasted buns with lettuce, onion, and your favorite condiments.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 287 calories, 110 calories from fat, 11.9g total fat, 73.7mg cholesterol, 396.1mg sodium, 400.9mg potassium, 20.8g carbohydrates, 5.4g fiber, 3.7g sugar, 26.9g protein, 101.1mg calcium, 4.6g saturated fat.
Notes
To maximize flavor and health benefits, crush garlic and let sit for 10-15 minutes before mixing with other ingredients.
(servings: 4)
