guacamole-smothered mexican burgers

In first grade my teacher used to eat an avocado every day for lunch and I remember (very tactfully) telling her that my mom said they were fattening. Now I know that they're full of good-for-your-bod fats, though, so it's all happy-clappy and fine, in my books. Which is a relief, because I love those puppies.

My mom made a Mexican meatloaf as I was growing up that we all clamored for, and when I crave it, I do it her way (with a few minute changes), but this time my creative juices got flowing and I decided to do them as burgers. I had a couple of very ripe avocados in the fridge that needed dealing with, and that's how it all happened.

So first, here's the meatloaf recipe, straight from my mama:

1 lb. ground turkey
15 oz. tomato sauce
1/3 c. crushed tortilla chips
1/4 c. chopped onion
2 T. chopped green pepper
1 package (1 1/4 oz.) taco seasoning mix (or if you don't have access to that, or want to save money, use 1 t. Worcestershire sauce, 1/8-1/4 t. cayenne pepper, 1/2 t. chili powder, and 1/2 t. salt)

Mix it all together, reserving 1 c. tomato sauce, and bake in a 9x5 loaf pan in a 350 F oven for 45-50 minutes. Heat remaining sauce and pour over.

My meatloaf version: I never add the green pepper and I do add chopped black olives and minced garlic.

My burger version: I added less tomato sauce, used ground pork instead of the ground turkey that I can't get here in Japan, used an off-brand Doritos look-alike instead of the hard-to-attain plain tortilla chips, and I added an egg and some panko (Japanese bread crumbs) to make it all stick together.

The verdict? MAKE AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!

OK, now for my guacamole:

2 avocados, mashed (and put the pits in the guacamole as a natural anti-browning agent - just don't eat them!)
dollop of plain yogurt
lemon juice (I can't get lime juice, my preference)
Tabasco sauce
salt and pepper
minced garlic
salsa

I served the burgers with the guac, a bit of plain yogurt, salsa, and some dried garlic slivers that I toasted in a dry nonstick pan on the stove, jiggling them around the whole time so they wouldn't burn.

And on the side, we had a spinach salad and some warm refried beans with melted cheese. Very filling and very delish. Mikey likes it!