Slide over the regular burgers you love, and bite into something better with our Farmer Cheese Veggie Sliders. Stacked high with benefits and layer upon layer of different flavors, these sliders are all you need next time the burger cravings come calling.
What makes a good burger? Different textures and flavors of ingredients all layered beneath two fluffy whole grain buns. A mix of fresh greens, juicy condiments, spices, tangy pickles, savory tomatoes, and onions all make great place to start. From there, you can take things up a notch like we did with grilled zucchini, red bell peppers, and spicy arugula in place of regular lettuce. Fresh herbs and spices add the perfect final touch.
But hold the mayo! We skipped the it here and used Lifeway Farmer Cheese instead, since it doubles as a source of protein and provides a creamy, rich texture just like mayo but without all the oil and empty calories. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is made from high-quality milk and live probiotic cultures and has a delicious mild, yet slightly tangy, taste to it with a creamy backbone that takes on a life of its own in the best way.
Here, we layered our farmer cheese on each bun before sealing everything up and enjoying every last bite. For an even meatier texture (without the meat!), add some grilled mushrooms inside for a similar texture. They provide a delicious umami flavor along with extra fiber and a wide array of other nutrients. Now, go start the grill and enjoy these Farmer Cheese Veggie Sliders while grilling season is still upon us. You’ll be glad you did!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 10 minutes Servings: 2-4Ingredients
- 4 whole grain (or gluten-free) buns of choice (or 8 mini buns)- we used artisan-style buns
- 1 cup Farmer Cheese
- 1/2 cup grilled zucchini slices
- 1/2 cup grilled red bell peppers
- 1 large portobello mushroom, sliced and grilled
- 1/4 cup grilled onions (or regular sliced onions)
- 1/2 cup fresh arugula
- garlic pepper
- 3-4 large tomato slices
- Other ingredient options: mustard of choice, dill pickle slices, hot sauce or ketchup, other lettuces (butter, romaine, etc.), other types of cheese
Directions
- Toast the buns for the sliders, if you prefer them that way. Grill your veggies if you haven't already (or you can use them without grilling).*
- Once toasted, spread Lifeway Farmer Cheese on each piece (about 1/4 cup per piece). Sprinkle garlic pepper over the top. On one side of each piece of bread, add the grilled veggies, the arugula (and other lettuces if using), tomato slices, and any additional ingredients listed like pickles, tomatoes, hot sauce, ketchup, and/ or mustard. If you like other types of cheese, you can add that here, too!
- Put the sliders together, and mash slightly with your hands to compress them a bit, then enjoy. G
- *Grilling the veggies makes the sliders easier to put together since they don't take up as much volume/height once you put everything together if they're grilled. It also gives them a natural smoky flavor similar to burgers!
