When you want something healthier, why not use ground turkey to make a delicious burger? Turkey has less fat than most ground beef, so this recipe adds seasoned breadcrumbs and an egg to moisten it. If you only have plain breadcrumbs, add 1/2 teaspoon of Italian dry herbs to the mixture. Additional flavor comes from mayonnaise and wasabi. In Italian, mayonnaise is called aioli, a term commonly found on restaurant menus. You make your own sauce by mixing mayo with wasabi from a tube.
If you aren’t grilling outside, a skillet with oil will sear a delicious turkey burger that you can make into a “deluxe” by adding tomato, onion and lettuce. Happy summer!
• 1/4 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, substitute any breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons neutral-tasting oil, such as vegetable or canola
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 teaspoons wasabi (from tube, not powder)
• 4 hamburger buns
• 4 onion slices
• 4 tomato slices
• 4 lettuce leaves Directions:
In a mixing bowl, combine the turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, salt and pepper. Form into 4 patties. Heat oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. When oil is hot, place patties in skillet and cook until the first side is browned, about 4 minutes. Turn burger and cook other side until your desired rareness, about 4 minutes for medium. While the burgers are cooking, warm the buns in a separate skillet or toast in oven. Mix mayonnaise with wasabi.
To assemble burger, place bottom bun on a plate and spread about a tablespoon of the wasabi aioli, then add 1 tomato slice, 1 onion slice, 1 lettuce leaf, and then add top bun.
Makes 4 burgers.
Lynette Lo Tom is the author of cookbooks A Chinese Kitchen and Back in the Day. She wants to hear about your cooking shortcuts. Reach her at lynette@brightlightcookery.com or @brightlightcookery on Instagram.
