Anyone who’s dabbled with turkey meat knows that getting a juicy and flavourful turkey burger is no easy feat. This recipe brings to life a succulent burger packed with a beautiful medley of flavours.
Ground turkey meat is a high protein, low in fat alternative to ground beef. However, my motto is “I can’t promise it’ll be healthy but I can promise it’ll be delicious.” With that said, anyone who has any type of cholesterol or heart issues, and/or sufferers of obesity or diabetes, please be warned that this recipe may need substitutions. Please be sure to discuss healthier substitutes with your healthcare professional or dietician.
When it comes to flavour I find ground turkey meat one of the most difficult to season. As much as I have no issues with a whole roasted turkey there’s always been something about the gaminess of ground turkey that throws a meal completely off for me. Well I promise you all that there will be no gaminess in these burgers. I’ve tweaked and tweaked, and then tweaked this recipe just a little bit more arriving where we are now. Some key ingredients that I want to stress should never be substituted:
Cumin - The bittersweet earthiness of this middle eastern spice helps get rid of the gamy taste of ground turkey.
Cilantro/Parsley - For those who find the taste of cilantro is like soap, yes, parsley is an appropriate substitute however please do not leave out these fresh herbs entirely. The power of fresh herbs in terms of flavour is a force no one should reckon with.
Bacon - I personally use low sodium or maple bacon and I have not tried these with any other type of bacon simply because mine and my family’s dietary needs do not require it. This is where I return individuals back to my initial warning for health concerns. THESE BURGERS ARE COOKED IN THE BACON GREASE, so skipping this step all together will alter the flavour and juiciness of these burgers in a way I don’t even want to fathom.
Now if you can handle my three commandments then by all means, please, let us continue to the burger nirvana we‘re about to create.
INGREDIENTS:
2lbs Ground Turkey
8 to 10 slices of bacon
1 tbsp Cumin
1 tsp Garlic powder
1 tsp Onion powder
1/2 tsp Paprika
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 tbsp Fresh cilantro or parsley
1 medium bell pepper*, minced
1 jalapeño pepper (or scotch bonnet), minced, optional
1 small red onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp unsalted butter
*You can use 1 medium bell pepper of your colour choice or you can mix up 2 or 3 different coloured mini bell peppers.
In a large mixing bowl combine all of the ingredients until everything is well incorporated.
Make four 8 oz. patties, cover with Saran Wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat and cook bacon.
Once cooked drain bacon on paper towel and set aside.
To the same skillet add 2 tbsp of butter.**
Once melted, add burgers and cook for 5 min on one side before flipping. Cook on remaining side until a thermometer reads an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
**For my spicy lovers, kick this recipe up a notch but sautéing sliced up hot peppers of your choice in the pan before adding the burger. To properly achieve this, add your hot peppers once the butter is melted and lower the heat to medium low. Sauté the hot peppers until they’re soft, or a minimum of 5 minutes before increasing the heat back to medium high to cook the burgers. It is very important to make sure the skillet gets back to the appropriate temperature before adding the burgers!
Now for my favourite part, the final touches! Top this burger with your favourite cheese and other fixings you enjoy, such as tomatoes, avocado, sautéed mushrooms, the possibilities are limited to your taste buds. I love these burgers topped with some of my guacamole, havarti cheese, and some coleslaw. Pair it with a salad, potato wedges or fries and dig in!