How to Make the "If Looks Could Kale Burger" from Bob's Burgers

Last Updated: March 11, 2021 Tested

If you're a fan of the TV series Bob's Burgers, you may be wondering what those "burgers of the day" Bob always writes down on his chalkboard would taste like. Well, you're in luck! Adapted from a fan blog and authored by the show's creator Loren Bouchard, The Bob's Burgers Burger Book features original takes on these burgers.

This recipe is based on the "If Looks Could Kale Burger" featured in Season 2, Episode 7 ("Moodie Foodie"). Makes 4 burgers topped with crispy kale and rich Gruyere cheese, and served with orzo salad on the side.

Ingredients

Orzo salad

3¼ cups (770 mL) of chicken stock
2 cups (475 g) of orzo
⅓ cups (65 g) of diced tomatoes
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, with the leaves finely chopped
Olive oil

Burgers

Olive oil
1 lb (450 g) of ground beef (if frozen, be sure to defrost first)
1 cup (200 g) of grated Gruyere cheese
4 hamburger buns
1 big bunch of dark green kale
4 cloves of garlic, minced
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:
Making the Orzo Salad

1
Bring a pot of chicken stock to a boil.
2
Pour in the orzo and cook for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally, and then drain when cooked.

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3
Mix in the diced tomatoes and chopped rosemary. Set aside; you can either serve hot or cold and drizzle a bit of olive oil prior to serving.

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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:
Making the Burgers

1
Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
2
Prepare the kale. Wash in cool water and pat dry. Then pull the leaves off the stems and discard the stems. Finally, shred the leaves into pieces roughly the size of playing cards.
3
Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
4
Spread the kale on the paper. Brush or drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
5
Bake for 20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the cook time. Be sure to watch the kale closely during the last few minutes, as kale can burn easily. Aim for a crispy texture, not charred—just like how kale chips are. Set aside once it's done.
6
Form 4 beef patties of equal size. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
7
Cook the patties to your liking. It makes no difference whether you pan fry or grill on the barbecue.
8
Lightly top each burger with the Gruyere cheese and allow to melt.
9
Toast each hamburger bun.
10
Build the burgers and serve with the orzo salad. Follow this order: bottom bun, burger patty with cheese, kale, and top bun.

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Warnings

As with all recipes using ground meat, make sure your burgers are cooked to a safe temperature of at least 160°F (71°C) to reduce the possibility of foodborne illness. If you have a meat thermometer, insert it into the side of the patty to gauge the temperature.

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