This is a burger of destiny. A friend recently spent a couple of weeks in Lebanon on a missions trip. Partway through the trip she texted me about the most beautiful burger she’d seen there: a half-inch-thick slab of mozzarella, breaded and deep-fried, set on a burger. Her message finished with, “Lebanon is a smart, smart country.”
I’d already been thinking about recreating my favorite French-style Crispy, Gooey Fresh Mozzarella Steaks, and Pamela’s message pushed the idea over the edge. In my mind the ideal toppings came together quickly: sun-dried tomato spread, peppery arugula, fresh basil, and soft pretzel buns. Fried Mozzarella and Sun-Dried Tomato Burgers had to happen.
These burgers are designed to make your meal noticeably better for the time it takes to eat them. They’re indulgent, yes, but very much worth it. Each component is chosen to balance texture and flavor: the soft pretzel bun is sturdy enough to hold hearty toppings yet remains chewy and tender when you bite into it. The sun-dried tomato spread brings concentrated, tangy tomato flavor with a touch of garlic and herbs to brighten every bite.
Arugula replaces lettuce for a peppery, resilient green that stands up to heat and adds a fresh snap beneath the hot burger and fried mozzarella. And the crispy fried mozzarella steak? That needs no defense — it’s the entire point.
This is the one burger to rule them all. A friendly warning: if you photograph these for Instagram before eating, expect envious friends to appear at your window with hungry faces pressed to the glass.
Fried Mozzarella and Sundried Tomato Burgers
You have a few choices when preparing these. Make your own soft pretzel buns or buy them — many grocery stores, including Aldi, now carry excellent pretzel rolls. You can make your own sun-dried tomato spread or purchase a high-quality jar. Once you try a good sun-dried tomato spread, you’ll want it in the fridge all the time.
Make your own hamburger patties or pick up preformed patties. One component that’s worth the effort is the Crispy, Gooey Fresh Mozzarella Steak — unless you live where they sell them ready-made, you’ll likely need to make these yourself. Freeze a batch and you’ll be minutes away from assembling these burgers whenever the craving strikes.
If you enjoy working with ground beef, try other economical, flavorful recipes like Ground Beef Fried Rice (Cheeseburger Fried Rice), 15-Minute Korean-Style Beef, or Cheater Sesame Beef for more quick meals.
Fried Mozzarella and Sun Dried Tomato Burgers
Rebecca Lindamood
Ingredients
Per Burger:
- 1 soft pretzel sandwich roll
- 4 tablespoons sun dried tomato spread
- 1/4 cup fresh arugula
- 1 freshly fried Crispy Gooey Fresh Mozzarella Steak
- 1 freshly grilled burger
- 3 fresh large basil leaves
Instructions
To Assemble the Burger:
-
Spread half of the sun-dried tomato spread over the bottom half of the pretzel bun. Pile the arugula on top of the spread, place the hot burger on the greens, then set the freshly fried Crispy, Gooey Fresh Mozzarella Steak on the burger and tuck the basil leaves over it. Spread the remaining sun-dried tomato spread on the cut side of the top half of the pretzel bun and set it atop the stack. If desired, secure the burger with a skewer to keep it steady while serving.
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Calculate exact nutrition using the specific ingredients you use and your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
Share your creation on Instagram and tag @foodiewithfam with the hashtag #foodiewithfamily so the author can see your version.