Tuesday, October 27, 2009

No ketchup please!


My kids did not miss the massive amounts of ketchup they usually gobble up with their burgers this time, as this recipe twists original burger toppings ever so slightly and creates a new and kid-friendly way to dress up a burger. In the end, they use less of everything, which is less mess for me to clean up, and a whole lot less sugar in their bellies. And that makes a mommy happy.
Team Favourite Turkey Burgers
4 Servings
1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs
3 tbsp ketchup
4 tsp dill pickle relish (splurge and buy the good stuff)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 pound uncooked ground turkey or chicken
1/3 cup mayonnaise
4 romaine leaves
8 tomato slices
4 whole wheat burger buns, split and toasted
Preheat broiler (or saute pan - I simply pan fried mine). In a large bowl combine bread crumbs, 2 tbsp ketchup, 2 tsp relish, garlic, salt and 1/8 tsp pepper. Add ground turkey; mix well. Shape into four 3/4 - inch thick patties.
In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, remaining 1 tbsp ketchup, remaining 2 tsp relish, and remaining 1/8 tsp pepper. Set aside.
Place patties on the unheated rack of a broiler pan (or in the preheated saute pan, with a tbsp of oil). Broil 4 to 5 inches from the heat for 14 to 18 minutes or until no longer pink inside (165 F), turning once half way through broiling. (If pan frying, cook for the same amount of time, turning only once, on medium-high heat.)
To serve, place lettuce leaves and tomato slices on the bottom halves of the buns. Top with burgers. Spoon mayonnaise mixture on burgers. Add top halves of buns.
I heard about a trick to make home made burgers keep a flat shape while cooking, rather than puffing up in the middle, like mine always have. I am happy to share that this really works:
When shaping the patties, make an indentation in the middle, as with thumb print cookies, only larger. The middle still puffs up while cooking, but since the middle is now thinner, it ends up even with the sides. I love little tricks like this, don't you?

No comments: