Fire & Ice Bold Burger (Printable)

Bold flavors combine spicy peppers and creamy cooling dip with melted cheese and fresh cucumber.

# Ingredient list:

→ Burger Patties

01 - 1.1 pounds ground beef or plant-based alternative
02 - 1 small red chili pepper, finely chopped
03 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Cheese & Toppings

07 - 4 slices pepper-jack cheese
08 - 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
09 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
10 - 4 burger buns

→ Cooling Yogurt Dip

11 - 5.3 ounces plain Greek yogurt
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
13 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Optional

16 - Lettuce leaves
17 - Sliced red onion

# How-to:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, chopped chili, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently and form into four equal patties.
02 - Preheat grill or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patties for 4 to 5 minutes on each side until just cooked through.
03 - Place one slice of pepper-jack cheese on each patty during the last minute of cooking to allow it to melt.
04 - In a small bowl, blend Greek yogurt, dill, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth.
05 - Lightly toast burger buns, if desired.
06 - Spread yogurt dip on the bottom bun, layer with cucumber slices, place the cheesy patty on top, then add red bell pepper slices and optional lettuce or onion. Finish with the top bun.
07 - Serve immediately, accompanied by extra yogurt dip on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The heat sneaks up on you, then the cool yogurt dip swoops in like a rescue mission, making every bite interesting.
  • It looks and tastes way more complicated than it actually is, which feels like you're getting away with something in the kitchen.
  • You can have it vegetarian without anyone feeling like they're missing out, because the flavors do all the heavy lifting.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cooling dip—the yogurt isn't just a condiment, it's the entire point of the exercise, so taste it as you go and make sure it has personality.
  • The heat in these burgers comes from the chili in the beef plus the pepper-jack, but it doesn't hit you all at once—it builds—so the fresh ingredients are doing the exact opposite, which is why they matter so much.
03 -
  • Toast your buns lightly—it's the difference between a burger that falls apart and one that holds up with dignity.
  • Add the yogurt dip to the bottom bun first, which creates a moisture barrier that keeps the bun from getting soggy from any burger juices.
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