I love a good turkey burger. I think they got a bad reputation in the early 2000's as the “low-fat” alternative to a beef burger. Listen, I’m not going to try to convince anyone that a turkey burger is a 1:1 replacement for a nice, juicy grassfed beef burger. It’s like comparing apples and oranges! They’re both meat, they’re both delicious, but they are nothing alike. Turkey burgers require a bit more bolstering to be as delicious as possible, a few more seasonings, some chopped herbs, a bit of egg and breadcrumbs to bind and moisten...think of them as a giant flattened meatball that you put on a bun (um, SO GOOD). These are full of punchy, herby flavors that is equally enjoyed on a plain bun by the young ones and can be livened up even more with a swipe of the aioli. I’m all about adult food that kid’s can bring down to their flavor levels ;)
Ingredients:
Makes about 12 patties
Makes about 12 patties
2 pounds ground turkey
(we love Mary’s Organic 93/7 ground turkey)
2 eggs, whisked well
½ cup breadcrumbs
(I just blend up stale sourdough to make the best breadcrumbs!)
¼ cup freshly grated parmesan
2 teaspoons salt
1 large handful of parsley, finely chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
a dash of red pepper flakes
Chimichurri Aioli:
a big handful of parsley, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely grated
¼ cup good quality mayonnaise (I also like to sub half of the mayo for greek yogurt for more protein ;)
a pinch of salt
a splash of red wine vinegar
a bit of your favorite cheese, lettuce, and buns for serving
Directions:
Get a large skillet or griddle (I love using my cast iron griddle for this!) warming over medium low heat.
In a large bowl, whisk the egg and add the breadcrumbs, parmesan, salt, chopped parsley, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Mix well and add the ground turkey, Use a fork to thoroughly combine it all together.
Put a bit of butter or olive oil on your griddle.
Use a large scoop or spoon to gather about ½ cup of the mixture into a ball and use your hand you gently press it onto the griddle into a flattened patty. The mixture will be a bit sticky, but do your best!
Repeat until all the patties are cooked.
While they’re cooking you can whip up your ailoi by combining all of the ingredients in a bowl. Toast your buns, slice up your cheese and load up your burger! Enjoy!
