Today is...

National Hamburger Day!

MEXICAN HAMBURGERS (CHULETAS)

Salsa Fria:

1 10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon wine vinegar

Chuletas:

2 cups Saltines, finely crushed
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup Vidalia onions, chopped
1/2 tsp garlic powder (not salt)
1 lb ground chuck (beef)
1 egg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 cup oil (for frying)

Garnish:

Rings of red onion, slices of avocado, sour cream and sprigs of cilantro.

Combine all Salsa Fria ingredients. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
On a sheet of wax paper, evenly spread cracker crumbs. Combine parsley, onions, ground meat, garlic powder, egg, chili powder and salt in a small bowl. Form 4 patties and coat each pattie with the cracker crumbs evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (but no more than 3 hours) to thoroughly chill.
Heat oil until it is hot enough to brown a 1 inch cube of bread in a little over 1 minute. (Don't get oil too hot or center of patties won't cook through). Fry patties in oil well browned on outside and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
Serve on a bed of iceberg lettuce with a few rings of red onion, topped with Salsa Fria and with a dollop of sour cream with a sprig of cilantro to the side and a slice of avocado.

My SIL made these a lot when I lived in CA. They are so yummy!