Plantains are probably my favorite food on the autoimmune protocol. I had never really had a plantain before going on AIP but now I eat them all the time. I have always had more of an affinity for salty crunchy snacks so plantain chips are my go-to snack. They fill me up and are oh-so-yummy. I love how versatile plantains are too! green plantains can be made into a yummy savory carboy dough and sweet plantains can be made into a dessert! I also love that I can eat them without feeling bad because green plantains are a fantastic source of food for all of the good gut bacteria I am working so hard to cultivate!

All of that being said, I just had to find a way to integrate my favorite AIP food into my favorite dinner night… burger night! We have burger night most every Thursday and it one of my favorite nights because it i simple and always satisfying (plus it is one of the few meals, my hubby enjoys helping me make, bonus) I have tried plantain fries, but now I wanted to make a plantain bun! I am not big into making complicated baked goods on a regular basis so I just decided to modify my tostones making process instead. It worked out great and was simple enough to do on a Thursday night! I hope you enjoy!

Pineapple Avocado Plantain Burger (AIP/Paleo)

Ingredients: 

1 lb Grass-Fed Ground Beef

2 pieces of bacon

1/2 yellow onion

1 TBS Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp ground black pepper (optional, omit for AIP)

4 green (unripe) plantains

2 TBS Coconut Oil

sea salt to taste

1 avocado

sliced pineapple

Sautéed Onions (Optional)

Directions:

In a food processor combine your bacon and your onion and run until finely chopped. Add this mixture to a mixing bowl and combine with ground beef, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well and form burgers (I recommend forming them into more of an oblong shape rather than a circle so that they fit on the plantains better). Grill or pan fry your burgers until they reach your desired temperature. To create the plantain buns pell your plantains and cut them in half, first across the width and then length wise. Heat your coconut oil over medium/high heat. Place the plantain slices in the oil and cook on each side for about 2 minutes. Remove them from the pan and use a cup or plate to gently flatten each slice. Then use the same method to fuse (or squish) two slice together to make a wider “bun” shape. Place them back into the oil and cook for another 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Sprinkle with sea salt and set them aside. To construct your burger, place the burger on the plantain bun and top with pineapple slices, avocado and grilled onions and enjoy!