The pairing of burger and squash doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as peanut butter and jelly. Yet operators are experimenting with squash-topped burgers and squash patties using a variety of gourd types, including spaghetti squash, kabocha, butternut, pumpkin and zucchini.
According to Technomic’s Burger Consumer Trend Report, three in four consumers would be more likely to purchase burgers and burger ingredients that are considered premium, and about half say they would be willing to pay more for these items (47%). After high-quality meat, high-quality vegetable toppings is the attribute that consumers most associate with premium burgers.
Why squash on burgers now? Since the veggie noodle boom, there’s certainly been a lot of focus on innovative gourd usages. Plus, it’s relatively cheap in season and provides flavor and texture variations to burgers depending on the type and preparation of squash.
Here are five burgers showcasing squash.