Monday, January 26, 2009

Turkey Burgers

My boyfriend doesn't care much for beef, for many reasons, and so I have switched from hamburgers to turkey burgers as a staple. It helps that ground dark-meat turkey is really tasty! I made up a sauce the same night I made these burgers for the first time, and now I will not make one without the other. The chipotle hot sauce listed below is available in most grocery stores for less than $3, maybe in the Mexican section. I'm a wuss when it comes to spicy sauces, but the ranch and honey soothe the burn quite beautifully, in my opinion. I have yet to serve this to anyone who has disagreed.

Turkey Burgers
Prep time 30 minutes, serves 5 or 6 depending on the size of your patties.

1 package ground turkey, about 2 lbs
half of a medium onion, diced
3 or 4 thin slices of onion for sauteeing
2 or 3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp Adobo or seasoned salt
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning (or just sage)
dash of salt & pepper
1/3 cup cooking sherry
1 to 2 tbsp olive oil
1 avocado, sliced
4 to 6 deli sandwich rolls or burger buns
honey chipotle ranch sauce (see below)
colby/monterey jack

Sautée the onion and garlic in a large skillet with olive oil and paprika, add water if you want, and cook until softened. Remove from heat and separate the onion/garlic from the oil as much as possible. Do not wash the skillet, the flavors of the onion and garlic in the oil is part of what makes these burgers good!

In a medium bowl, mix the turkey and onion/garlic until well blended, adding salt, pepper, adobo, poultry seasoning, and paprika. Form into patties, making a little crater with your thumb in the middle -- this helps them stay flat when you cook them. Set the patties on a plate.

Heat skillet to medium-high and add sherry, plus a little more olive oil if needed. When it's good and hot, put the patties in. Turn the heat down to medium-low after about 2 minutes and cover.
Cook the burgers until golden and a little crispy on the edges, flipping as often as you please. Add cheese and thinly sliced onions, cover the pan again, and toast your rolls. Once the rolls are toasted, put the burgers on them and sautee the onions a bit more.

On the bun: avocado, sauteed onions, Burger, cheese, and this sauce:

Honey Chipotle Ranch Sauce
1/2 cup ranch dressing
3 to 5 tbsp chipotle hot sauce, or more depending on your heat tolerance
3 tbsp honey

Stir together in a small bowl. Add more of any ingredient to taste.

These burgers and this sauce are a match made in heaven for sweet potato fries. Trust me!

4 comments:

  1. this was the first thing you made for me! with yummy guac. i was hooked and now i make them all the time. this week in fact!

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  2. I know what you mean, I have to have them like once a month.

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  3. and i making it again tonight! with roasted sweet potatoes!

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