We had the Sister Missionaries over for supper one night last week. I cooked turkey burgers for them and they were just thrilled. These are the simplest and juiciest turkey burgers ever! Why are they so juicy? Because of the secret ingredient . . . and to find out what it is read on . . .
The burger mix itself is quite simple . . . just ground white lean turkey breast meat and a mix of herbs and spices . . . which could have a tendancy to be dry all on their own. The magic happens with the addition of an egg and some cream, but that's not all . . .
I like to tuck a tiny pat of butter in the middle of the burger mixture and then cover it over so it is enclosed . . . that way when you bite into them, you get a nice little splosh of juicy butteriness . . . kind of like a turkey burger kiev I suppose, except it's not garlic butter, just ordinary butter . . .
But having said that I am thinking a tiny pat of garlic butter would be very moreish and delicious and I am wondering why I never thought of that before. That would be so good. I guess I will have to try it next time!
In the meantime do enjoy these burgers with all of your favorite toppings/garnishes. I like thinly sliced purple onions, mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato and sometimes I make up a mix of cranberry catsup, which is also a tasty addition. (Equal parts of cranberry sauce and tomato ketchup. Don't wrinkle your nose . . . it's very good!) A slice of strong cheddar gets melted over the top of the burgers.
*Simple Turkey Burgers*Makes 6Printable Recipe
These turkey burgers are filled with flavor and very juicy, due to a secret ingredient. I mix these together early in the day and shape, then chill them until I am ready to cook them.
1 1/2 pounds lean ground turkey breast meat1 large free range egg, lightly beaten1 1/2 TBS creamsalt and black pepper to taste1/8 tsp each powdered sage, dried thyme, dried marjoram and dried rosemary leavespinch ground nutmeg1 heaped tsp dried parsley flakes1 tsp onion powder3 TBS cold butter, cut into 6 flat pieces6 slices strong cheddar cheese6 soft white bunsother burger toppings as desired
Put the ground turkey into a bowl. Put all of the herbs and seasonings into a small bowl and rub together. Stir in the cream. Add the cream mixture and the beaten egg to the turkey and mix well together with a fork. Divide the mixture into six even bits. Shape each into a ball. (It will be a bit tacky, but don't worry about that) Push a piece of butter into the center of each ball, and then bring some of the turkey over it to cover and enclose it completely. Press the turkey ball flat into a flat patty, and place each burger (patty) onto a cling film lined plate. Cover and chill for several hours.
When you are ready to cook them remove from the refrigerator. Heat a large skillet. Spray with low fat cooking spray. Add the burger patties and cook for about 4 minutes per side, until nicely browned and cooked through. Add a slice of cheese to the top for the last few minutes to melt. Serve in soft white buns along with your favorite burger toppings on the side.
Bon Appetit!
