A Millennial’s Grilled Broccoli Burger

A Millennial's Grilled Broccoli Burger

A Millennial’s Grilled Broccoli Burger

Summer is a few days away, and summer means it’s time to fire up the grill. This summer the (delicious) smell and sound of meals being cooked over an open flame will be more than in years past, and it is all thanks to millennials. Yes, millennials! Millennials are the generation of young adults that were born between 1980 and 2000 (also called Generation Y), and let’s face it, they’re trendsetters. They are the biggest generation in U.S. history, surpassing Baby Boomers!

Millennials are obsessed with food and crave an experience. They use food as an outlet for entertaining and self-expression, which is why grilling is their latest obsession. But, millennials are not the only ones enjoying the grilling trend, ten years ago the average family was using the BBQ, 2½ times during the summer. This year, it’s expected, that families will be eating dinner from the grill 9 times during the summer months.

What is being grilled up is also different than in years past. It is not your typical burgers and dogs, millennials are concerned with how their food is made, where it comes from, and how it’s grown, more than any other generation. Millennials try more bold flavors when they cook but they more often seek healthy options and flavor alternatives. Wellness is huge with this generation, and for them, grilling is a healthy food prep method. Millennials have helped boost the clean eating, healthy eats, carb alternative, and healthy swaps trends.

The latest hashtag phenomenon is Meatless Monday or Meat-Free Monday, where they choose to not eat meat one day a week, (most of the time, obviously, Monday) for their health and the health of the planet. These meals are all photographed and documented on Twitter and Instagram, of course, accompanied by at least a dozen hashtags! The benefits to swapping out veggies for the meat include, less fat and calories, lower to no preservatives and higher fiber intake.

Well guess what Millennials we hear you! We know exactly what you want, and we have the perfect recipe for your #MeatlessMonday #MeatAlternative #Grilling #GetTogether! Let us introduce you to the Grilled Broccoli Mushroom Burger! This tasty burger is made with Gold Coast Packing’s Caulifornia™ Broccoli Bits. We have done all the hard work for you, we got broccoli and cut it up into small pieces, about the same size as a rice granule. It is part of the Caulifornia™ family, along with our award winning Caulifornia™ Snow™. Caulifornia™ Broccoli Bits is available in retail and foodservice packs and ready for your culinary creations.

The burger patties come together quite easily, with common ingredients that you will most likely have stocked at home. AND… guess what?!? You don’t have to be a millennial to enjoy this recipe, and if you don’t care to grill these meat-free patties, they can easily be made in your kitchen on a skillet. So, whip up a batch of these patties, throw them on your grill (or don’t, use your stove you rebel), serve them up on a whole wheat bun or a lettuce leaf (you-carb conscious diners) and don’t forget your favorite toppings! Pickles please!

We hope you have enjoyed this meatless adventure, whether you’re a baby boomer, or from generation X, Y or Z!  Remember you can stick with The Produce Navigator for recipe ideas, produce industry news and a little bit of everything in between, thanks for joining us.