I’ll just say it: turkey burgers can be pretty blah.
Sure, they’re a healthier choice because they’re lower in fat and calories than the traditional ground beef burger.
But doesn’t it still add up to a big waste of calories when the food is boring, bland, and flavorless?
So I’ve got this recipe that changes all that.
First, I stuffed the turkey patties with lots of salty crumbled feta.
Then I added smoky roasted red peppers and a fresh and peppery arugula pesto.
These turkey burgers happen to offer a tasty and savory combo of flavors in every cheesy, nutty, peppery bite.
They are so, so yummy.
My meat-and-potatoes-guy officially loves turkey burgers now, which was no easy feat, let me tell you.
Here, I unlock all the not-so-secret ingredients to making turkey burgers that actually taste amazing.
The first step is to make the roasted red peppers.
This is something that should be prepared at least a couple of hours ahead of time.
I’m not the type of individual to properly plan a meal 24 hours in advance, let alone remembering ahead of time to make a topping for a burger.
But in this case, the extra planning is so worth it.
There is just nothing like the flavor of fresh, homemade roasted red peppers on a burger.
And roasted red peppers are actually very easy to make.
They just require some “inactive” time to really absorb all the delicious garlic and olive oil that’s added to them.
Start by preparing your grill for medium heat and charring a red bell pepper.
After the first side has blackened, rotate the pepper to the next side, and so on.
After about 15 minutes or so, your pepper should be completely charred on all sides.
Now place it in a bowl, cover it, and allow it to sit for about 45 minutes.
When the bell pepper has reached room temperature, peel off the charred outer skin.
The skin should peel away easily if the pepper has had enough time to sit and cool (you can’t rush this process, as I’ve learned).
Once all the char is peeled away, you’ll end up with a tender, vivid red roasted pepper.
Cut it into thin strips.
Place the strips in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
Mince up a clove of garlic and add it to the bowl.
Then add just a bit of extra virgin olive oil and stir to combine.
Cover and store in the fridge for at least two hours and up to 24 hours.
Amazing flavor that also happens to be very fresh and healthy will soon be yours!
Next up: the arugula pesto.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place some pine nuts on a parchment-lined baking sheet and toast them in the oven for about 5 minutes.
Watch them carefully so you end up with golden, lightly toasted pine nuts (they burn fast!)
Place some fresh arugula, one clove of garlic, and the toasted pine nuts in a food processor.
Grate some fresh parmesan and add that as well.
Season with salt and pepper and pulse until you end up with a thick paste.
Add some extra virgin olive oil and pulse again until everything is well combined.
Tip: while you’re at it, make extra! This pesto tastes delicious on pizza or with pasta. (Those recipes TBP (To Be Posted) at a later date.) (Yup, just made up my own acronym. You’re pretty impressed now, right?) (CK (Completely Kidding).)
Next, grab some 95 percent lean ground turkey and divide it into four equally portioned balls.
Season well with salt and pepper.
Press down into the center of each, flattening the bottom and pushing the outer edges up to form a bowl shape.
Toss some crumbled feta cheese into each “bowl.”
I love feta.
It’s salty, it’s mild, and it happens to be a healthier cheese.
(One ounce has 75 calories and four grams of saturated fat, as compared to cheddar at 110 calories and six grams of saturated fat in one ounce.)
So it’s a healthy choice for a burger topping.
And stuffing the burgers with feta add tons of flavor to each bite.
Fold the sides of the patties up and over the cheese until the feta is completely sealed in the center.
Next, grab some whole wheat burger buns.
The secret to making these turkey burgers taste so flavorful is to season every last thing, including the bread!
So brush on just a bit of extra virgin olive oil.
And add just a bit of salt and pepper.
Last, sprinkle on some garlic powder.
Next, prepare the grill for medium heat.
Place the turkey burgers on the grill and let them cook, untouched for about 7 minutes.
Be sure not to flip, move, or press down on the burgers during this time. This is the key to a burger that is nicely browned on the outside, but still juicy and tender inside.
When the first side is lightly browned, it should easily separate from the grill.
Flip, and cook the second side for another 7 minutes or so.
When the meat is fully cooked through, your burgers are ready to serve. (If you’re unsure, you can use a meat thermometer to check for a temperature of 165 degrees F in the very center of the burgers.)
Place the burger buns on the grill for just a couple of minutes to toast them.
And (finally!) assemble your burgers.
Pile on the fresh arugula pesto and the homemade roasted red pepper strips.
The toppings for this burger are bright, colorful, and full of healthy nutrients.
But the most important thing: they add so much deliciousness.
The pepper, arugula, garlic, and feta flavors all work so perfectly together in this big, hearty, juicy burger.
This is one flavorful and satisfying dish!
Here is the complete recipe:
Two Choices:
Big Time Saver: When you’ve snapped a few spears and have a good idea of how much of the stalk should be removed, you can grab a small bunch of asparagus spears and just chop off the ends all at once.
