This 4th of July gives us a brief reprieve from the unsettling year we’ve had so far. So let’s focus on having fun and keeping it simple with healthy easy 4th of July recipes that nourish our mind, body, and spirit. We NEED this after months of quarantine!

These guys look like they are in full-body mask – but this is actually pre-Covid19! Huntington Beach 4th of July parade ©Priscilla Willis

Be Responsible With Your 4th of July Gatherings

Between the coronavirus pandemic, national divisiveness, and widespread protests, 2020 has been turbulent, to say the least. Americans are craving some normalcy and a return to traditional celebrations and maybe, just maybe, small outdoor gatherings of friends and family can give us the comfort we so desire. With an emphasis on small and outdoors to stress being responsible by following CDC guidelines to protect you and your loved ones from potentially spreading coronavirus.

Roasted Pepper and Tomato Salsa, healthy easy 4th of July recipes

Winner! Roasted Pepper & Tomato Salsa ©Honeycomb Kitchen

Honeycomb Kitchen’s Unboxed Online Cooking Class

This healthy easy recipe for Beef & Beet Burgers comes from a Honeycomb Kitchen Shop Zoom cooking class three of my hiking/kayaking friends and I participated in last month. Honeycomb had the brilliant idea of collaborating with KT Produce and Chef Haley O’Brian of Fractal-NWA to host their “Unboxed Online Cooking Class” on Zoom during the coronavirus quarantine. The monthly virtual classes focus on healthy, home-cooked meals with the added bonus of receiving a huge box of fruits and vegetables (along with other ingredients needed for preparation), and cooking instruction.

Themes for prior cooking classes included Cinco de Mayo, Moroccan, and a chocolate pairing evening. The theme for our class was Father’s Day Grill Out and we had a blast cooking, drinking wine, and joking around with other Zoomers while watching the cooking demonstration. We diced, chopped, roasted, sauteéd, blended, grated, and mixed our way through four recipes: Roasted Pepper & Tomato Salsa, Beef & Beet Burgers, Power-Up Potato Salad, and Raspberry Lemonade. Full disclosure: we skipped the lemonade because we were drinking wine 😉

We loved everything we made, but especially the burgers and the salsa. Not only did we learn some cooking tips and tricks and have an excellent meal, but we had an abundance of fruits and vegetables remaining in the produce box to take home.

A couple that cooks together, stays together ©Priscilla Willis

A Healthier Burger is Tough to Beat

Don’t be put off by the beets incorporated into this burger—you won’t even taste them, trust me. The beets are grated and sauteed with onion and actually made the burgers more moist and flavorful. Plus, you’re doing your body a favor with added fiber and all the beneficial nutrients found in beets. (Beets are a great source of fiber, folate (vitamin B9), manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C.)

Beef and Beet Burgers, healthy easy 4th of July recipes

Beef & Beet Burger ©Honeycomb Kitchen Shop

Beef & Beet Burgers Recipe

Beef & Beet Burgers

Beets (grated and sautéed with onion) ensure a moist burger with loads of flavor. Plus, you get fiber and a veggie - it's a win win!

Course: Main

Cuisine: American

Keyword: burger, grilling, hamburger

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Priscilla

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef preferably hormone free, grass fed
1.5 cups shredded beets
1 medium onion, chopped
2 teaspoons soy sauce, teriyaki, or liquid aminos
4 burger or slider buns

Toppings

avocado
goat, feta, or Fromage Blanc cheese
red onion, thinly sliced
mayonnaise
tender greens such as spinach, butter lettuce, or arugula
fresh basil

Instructions

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet. Add chopped onions and cook until softened, stirring frequently, continue to brown and caramelize for an additional 5 minutes.
Add the shredded beets and /12 teaspoon of sea salt (optional), continue to caramelize for an additional 10 minutes until the beets are lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a plate or sheet pan to cool.
Add ground beef, eggs, and soy sauce. Mix until combined.
Divide evenly into 4 burger patties and cook in a cast iron skillet or on a pre-heated grill for 2-3 minutes on each side. Add cheese on top in the last 30 seconds of cooking time. Toast bus in the oven or on the grill, if desired.
Top your burger with your desired toppings and enjoy!