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| Turkey burgers on the grill. Photo: The Skinny Chef |
Dark or Light?
Not all ground turkey is created equal. Regular ground turkey -- labeled 93 percent lean -- is a combination of white and dark meat and sometimes contains other parts of the turkey, including skin and organ meat. Look for statements like "98 to 99 percent fat free" or check the label for calorie and fat content to make sure you're getting the lean stuff.
Get Jennifer's no-fail turkey burger tips after the jump.
The Moist Maker
When I make burgers and meatballs with ground turkey, I always add something that can bring moisture to the meat. Since most lean ground turkey is so low in fat, it can quickly dry out before it's cooked all the way through on the grill.
For one pound of turkey, add 1 cup of breadcrumbs and 1/2 cup skim milk or 1 cup of grated zucchini with 2 tablespoons of steak sauce or Worcestershire sauce. Or try one 10-ounce package of mushrooms chopped with 1/2 chopped onion, mushrooms and a handful of breadcrumbs to keep the burgers moist as the protein firms.
Flavor Savor
Don't be shy about burger toppings. If you're worried that your turkey burger might turn out bland, top it with some bold salsa that can also do double duty as a flavor enhancer and as your daily serving of fruit or veggies. There are plenty of condiments to choose from. Consider guacamole, grapefruit olive salsa, tomato cantaloupe salsa or pineapple salsa.
Best Buns
Want to get more whole grains in? Just choose the right buns. The first ingredient should have the word "whole" in it, as in whole wheat, whole oats or whole spelt. The word "whole" plus the type of flour should be the only flour listed on the label. Enriched wheat flour isn't really 100 percent wheat; it's wheat flour that has been partially stripped of bran and then had vitamins re-added. The shorter the ingredient list, the better when it comes to packaged breads. Take a peek before you get in the checkout line.
Learn more about Jennifer at skinnychef.com, and read her exclusive Slashfood blogs every Monday and Friday.
6-29-2009 @1:32PM CD said... I actually stumbled across the best turkey burger I've ever had last week. Saute onion, garlic, and bacon in a pan. Add to 1 package of cornbread mix with 3/4 cup of chicken broth and dried cranberries, then mix that in with the turkey meat along with some salt and pepper. I also added an egg to keep it more moist. It was delish.
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6-29-2009 @1:44PM Scott said... That "regular ground turkey" with the dark meat and skin and such in it makes better burgers. Seriously. You say that "since most lean ground turkey is so low in fat, it can quickly dry out..." but I have a solution! Buy the cheaper ground turkey that uses the whole animal, not the expensive stuff that's just breast meat. The fat keeps the burger juicy and delicious.
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6-29-2009 @1:52PM Julie said... All my experiencing with ground turkey have been good ones. We also use it for our meatloaf as well as for our meatballs in sauce.
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6-29-2009 @3:40PM Dean said... When I make turkey burgers, I overcome the moisture problem by mixing in some sauteed onions. When I do that it adds moisture and flavor. The panade also works but doesn't add much flavor. You have to be careful and not add too much panade, otherwise you get meatloaf, and not a burger. The best results have come from a combination of sauteed onions and about 1 tsp of panade per burger.
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6-30-2009 @10:05AM Jay L said... I use a ratio of 1/4 cup ricotta cheese to 1 lb. ground turkey. Of course, adding fat back in might defeat your purpose of using turkey in the first place, but low-fat isn't my goal.
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6-30-2009 @10:13AM Liz said... How interesting that this topic comes up, on the heals of a Next Food Network Star contestant serving up a platter of salmonella to the Judges when she failed to cook her turkey burgers completely. To what temp should these be cooked to be considered safe, but not a hockey puck?
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7-04-2009 @9:48PM Old Style Pork n Beans Recipe said... D E L I C I O U S ! !
You should try it with Old Style Pork n Beans, recipe can be found at http://FoodRecipesMadeEasy.blogspot.com
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