For many the Canada Day weekend is the official kick-off to summer fun with the warm weather here to stay and another school year completed. Whether you’re heading to the cottage or hanging out in your backyard why not strike up the grill with these 5 burger recipes inspired by Canada’s diverse regions.
From a Portobello Burger out west to a Scallop Burger in the east, President’s Choice put a few Canadian Chefs and influential foodies to the task of creating a burger representing their region of Canada. The result is 5 very different and very tasty sounding recipes worthy of any Canadian grill.
BC: “West Coast Mediterranean Portobello Burger,” Chef Dino Renaerts, Partner and Executive Chef, The Bon Vivant Consulting Group
Dino started with the PC® Portobello Mushroom Caps, that are dense and meaty so the texture makes them a natural for the grill; he stacked PC® Naturally Smoked Bacon Rounds which offer everything you love about bacon strips but in a round shape (the rounds don’t just fit your burger better, but curl at the edges when cooked to better hold your toppings); he added caramelized tomatoes and goat’s cheese; and, he piled it all onto a PC® Ciabatta Burger Bun, brushed with a simple aioli made with PC® black label Basil Pesto and PC® Mayonnaise made with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Alberta: “Spice of the Prairies Burger,” Dan Clapson, Calgary Food Writer and Columnist
Dan started with PC® Free From® Bison Burgers topped with gooey provolone cheese, and then created a spicy blueberry aioli using PC® Whole Grain Dijon Mustard and PC® Mayonnaise made with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, goat cheese and a few spices. Dan stacked it all onto a PC® Round Pretzel Bun, topped it with tomato, lettuce tossed in PC® Sweet Vidalia Onion Salad Dressing, and finished his burger by adding a surprising but delightful sprinkle of crushed PC® Thick Cut Rippled Potato Chips for crunch.
Ontario: “Great Lakes Guac and Gouda Burger,” Chef Rob Bragagnolo, Executive Chef, Marben Restaurant
Rob started with the PC® Loads of Gouda, Mushrooms & Onions Burger, with big chunks of Gouda, mushrooms and roasted onions for a big burst of flavor with every bite; he stacked even more slices of smoked Gouda and the new PC® Naturally Smoked Bacon Rounds which offer everything you love about bacon strips but in a round shape (the rounds don’t just fit your burger better, but curl at the edges when cooked to better hold your toppings); he combined avocado, cilantro, lime juice, PC® black label Peperoncini Piccanti peppers, PC® black label Spiced Tomato Condiment, and a touch of salt to create a fantastic guacamole topping; and, he piled it all onto a PC® Ciabatta Burger Bun, slathered with PC® black label Caramelized Red Onion Chutney.
Quebec: “Wagyu Beef Burger,” Chef Martin Patenaude, Loblaw® Quebec
To create the Wagyu beef burger with spicy tomato, bacon, avocado, arugula and same-day fresh cheese, Québec style, Chef Martin started with the PC® black label Wagyu Beef Burgers, that use beef from the Kobe beef family, which has a rich, buttery flavour due to its omega-3 rich marbling, making it one of the most succulent meats in the world. He then stacked on same-day fresh cheese curds and the new PC® Naturally Smoked Bacon Rounds. They offer everything you love about bacon strips, but fit your burger better and curl at the edges when cooked to better hold your toppings. Martin also combined PC® Olive Oil Mayonnaise, the PC® black label Spiced Tomato Condiment and pepper to make a simple but flavourful spicy mayonnaise. To top it off, he garnished a PC® Ciabatta Burger Bun with fresh avocado, arugula and a dollop of PC® Corn Relish.
Atlantic: “Fog Buster Scallop Bacon Burger,” Chef Craig Flinn, Owner of Chives Canadian Bistro
Chef Craig combined PC® Blue Menu® Sustainably Sourced Wild Nova Scotian Frozen Jumbo Sea Scallops, salt, pepper, flour, eggs, PC® black label® Panko Japanese-style Breadcrumbs and PC® Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Tuscany to create mouth-watering scallops. He topped with a tartar sauce and assembled with PC® Naturally Smoked Bacon Rounds, PC® Organics baby arugula and PC® Hawaiian Sweet Buns.
All these burgers sound pretty tempting but I think the Spice from the Prairies Burger would be the first on my list. Bison and provolone cheese together? Yes please! We might even try another burger buffet. For more burger inspiration checkout out list of 39 BBQ Burger Recipes. What will be on your grill this long weekend?
Images and recipes ideas reprinted with permission from Presidents Choice.