Southeast Asian Turkey Burgers - Erin

Southeast Asian Turkey Burgers

First of all, these are incredible.  Caity, and just about everybody else, frequently requests this for dinner, especially in the summer, because it's so delicious and fresh tasting with all of the fresh herbs and cucumbers.  At a barbeque with a bunch of her friends while they were still in high school, even the 17 year-old boys picked these over regular burgers, and that's pretty impressive!  The recipe is from the Food Network, from Sara Moulton's show, "Sara's Secrets," and you really have to make them, they are delicious!

what you will need

For pickled cucumbers:

1/3 cup seasoned rice vinegar (Asian side of market—or just use plain rice vinegar with a little salt and sugar added)

1 Tbsp. sugar

¼ cup pickled ginger
1 English cucumber (the long, un-waxed kind that usually comes wrapped in plastic; a little more expensive, but you can leave the pretty green peel on and it is seedless, and tends to have better flavor and texture)

For Burgers:
1 large clove garlic

2 slices firm white sandwich bread (use ½ cup or so of panko bread crumbs in a pinch—I don’t always have white bread)

1-1¼ lbs. lean ground turkey (usually comes in a package that’s more than 1lb. for some reason—don’t know why)

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
¼ cup chopped fresh mint
2 Tbsp. lime juice
2 tsp. sugar
¼ tsp. hot sauce like Tapatio, Cholula or Tabasco
Salt and pepper to taste
4 light hamburger buns
Light mayonnaise
Tender lettuce

For the pickled cucumbers:

In a bowl stir together the vinegar and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Chop the ginger into small slivers.  Slice enough cucumber crosswise into 1/8 inch thick slices to measure 1½ cups and add to vinegar with ginger, tossing well.  Marinate mixture at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.

For the burgers:

Prepare grill if using.

In a food processor or blender, mince garlic. Tear bread into small pieces and grind into fine crumbs (or use panko bread crumbs and mince garlic by hand). In a large bowl with your hands mix garlic, breadcrumbs and remaining burger ingredients until just combined (do not overmix) and form into 4 or 5 (1-inch-thick) patties.

If cooking on the stovetop, heat heavy grill pan or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Season burgers with salt and pepper on both sides and grill on lightly oiled surface for about 5 minutes per side, or until just cooked through but still juicy.

Spread buns with mayo, and transfer cooked burgers to buns. Top with drained cucumbers and lettuce. Really, really yummy. Really.