Savory Turkey Burgers
Since Seth and I were stuck packing on the 4th of July, I thought I would at least try to keep with tradition and make burgers for lunch. I’m not a big fan of red meat and prefer a turkey burger to a hamburger, so that’s what we had.
Ground turkey is pretty easy to find in the stores now. I usually go with the ground turkey breast since it’s leaner, but the dark meat is more moist and has a little more flavor. I also sometimes mix the two together. I add a lot of seasoning to the burgers since turkey is drier than beef. Thyme and sage go really well with turkey, and I also add minced onions and garlic (or a minced shallot), salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Cranberries are outstanding in these burgers as well. I haven’t tried adding the walnuts. After mixing all the ingredients together lightly (don’t overwork the meat), I shaped them into patties and fried them over medium heat for about 7 minutes a side. I would normally grill them, but the grill isn’t currently in working order.
I have added a variety of cheeses to the burgers, including Swiss, muenster, and cheddar. I decided to go with brie this time, which was interesting because the brie just melted into a thick liquid. I ended up spooning it out of the pan and onto the burgers, which worked out pretty well and tasted great. While the turkey burger obviously doesn’t taste like the traditional burger, I still think it’s very good. It has a terrific flavor from all the seasoning and cheese, plus it retains moisture from the onions and garlic. Served on a wheat bun with lettuce and a little Russian dressing, and it makes one exceptional burger.