I warned you on a previous blog that my blogging would be sparse over the term of the Olympics and it is VERY true. Every four years, I shut down for a week or so and get little done in my house including cooking. I try to come up with the easiest meals or meals that Matt can cook as I sit on the couch caught up in watching America fight for gold.
BUT, I did manage to cook yesterday...it wasn't something I intended to cook, but what I ended up cooking turned out SO incredible, that no one was complaining.
When I planned the meals for the week, I planned on making Turkey Gyros. I have made these before and they are just delicious and very fresh tasting. I sent Matt to the store with my grocery list and he was able to get everything on the list including everything for the gyros EXCEPT for the turkey breasts. He tried another store...no go. He tried ANOTHER store...nope. I went out and looked...there must have been a run on turkey breasts...there were none to be found.
Yesterday I stood in Kroger thinking...I have tzatziki sauce, feta, roasted red peppers....what do I do now? I called Matt... We brainstormed together and he suggested turkey burgers (we have come to LOVE turkey burgers FAR MORE than beef burgers). The little computer man in my brain started typing fiercely and an idea was born. I got the ground turkey and hamburger buns and headed home.
So, this is what I did.
First of all, I HIGHLY recommend cooking turkey burgers (and other burgers) in a panini press or foreman grill or something like that. It helps keep the burger juicy. I preheated my panini press and assembled the burgers.
Turkey burger part: I put the turkey mean in a bowl. I sprinkled in generous amounts of garlic salt and pepper. *A note about garlic salt...I bought at Kroger the other day a Kroger brand garlic salt that is coarser than other garlic salts and wonderful!* I also tossed in a couple handfuls of feta (we LOVE feta...and these chunks were HUGE). Using my hands, I mixed the meat, seasonings and feta together until well incorporated. I divided the meat into threes (my son had an unexpected sleepover opportunity and left) and made the patties.
Bun Part: I took generous levels of tzatziki sauce and spread over both buns. I LOVE that stuff. My daughter LOVES onion, especially purple onion, so I put thick slices on her bun, medium on Matt's and fine on mine. I cut up some roasted red pepper and put that down.
Next I grilled the burgers (mine were large, so I did them one at a time). My panini press' top plate is hotter than my bottom plate, so I flipped them a couple times to ensure even cooking. I do not know the time, you can be the judge of that. I had the press at a bit over medium heat.
I placed the burger on the bun, topped with some fresh spinach, placed the other bun on top and that was that. Sierra got served first (she is always starving) and I waited to hear her review...and she said it was incredible....one that needs to be repeated often. When I tried mine, I was in awe. So many people complain about turkey burgers being dry...but I think it is all in the way you cook it and serve it. We have found them made in the panini press gives them such juicy yumminess and topped with many different toppings (guacamole is a fave) helps, too. Do not forget to season your meat. Use your own judgement, but I was fairly generous in how much I used.
There was SO MUCH flavor...juicy-ness...and the mixture of the melted feta in the meat, the roasted red peppers, tzatziki sauce, onion and spinach just complimented it beautifully. I cannot emphasize how much I would recommend this burger...it was one of the best I have EVER had!!
BUT, I did manage to cook yesterday...it wasn't something I intended to cook, but what I ended up cooking turned out SO incredible, that no one was complaining.
When I planned the meals for the week, I planned on making Turkey Gyros. I have made these before and they are just delicious and very fresh tasting. I sent Matt to the store with my grocery list and he was able to get everything on the list including everything for the gyros EXCEPT for the turkey breasts. He tried another store...no go. He tried ANOTHER store...nope. I went out and looked...there must have been a run on turkey breasts...there were none to be found.
Yesterday I stood in Kroger thinking...I have tzatziki sauce, feta, roasted red peppers....what do I do now? I called Matt... We brainstormed together and he suggested turkey burgers (we have come to LOVE turkey burgers FAR MORE than beef burgers). The little computer man in my brain started typing fiercely and an idea was born. I got the ground turkey and hamburger buns and headed home.
So, this is what I did.
First of all, I HIGHLY recommend cooking turkey burgers (and other burgers) in a panini press or foreman grill or something like that. It helps keep the burger juicy. I preheated my panini press and assembled the burgers.
Turkey burger part: I put the turkey mean in a bowl. I sprinkled in generous amounts of garlic salt and pepper. *A note about garlic salt...I bought at Kroger the other day a Kroger brand garlic salt that is coarser than other garlic salts and wonderful!* I also tossed in a couple handfuls of feta (we LOVE feta...and these chunks were HUGE). Using my hands, I mixed the meat, seasonings and feta together until well incorporated. I divided the meat into threes (my son had an unexpected sleepover opportunity and left) and made the patties.
Bun Part: I took generous levels of tzatziki sauce and spread over both buns. I LOVE that stuff. My daughter LOVES onion, especially purple onion, so I put thick slices on her bun, medium on Matt's and fine on mine. I cut up some roasted red pepper and put that down.
Next I grilled the burgers (mine were large, so I did them one at a time). My panini press' top plate is hotter than my bottom plate, so I flipped them a couple times to ensure even cooking. I do not know the time, you can be the judge of that. I had the press at a bit over medium heat.
I placed the burger on the bun, topped with some fresh spinach, placed the other bun on top and that was that. Sierra got served first (she is always starving) and I waited to hear her review...and she said it was incredible....one that needs to be repeated often. When I tried mine, I was in awe. So many people complain about turkey burgers being dry...but I think it is all in the way you cook it and serve it. We have found them made in the panini press gives them such juicy yumminess and topped with many different toppings (guacamole is a fave) helps, too. Do not forget to season your meat. Use your own judgement, but I was fairly generous in how much I used.
There was SO MUCH flavor...juicy-ness...and the mixture of the melted feta in the meat, the roasted red peppers, tzatziki sauce, onion and spinach just complimented it beautifully. I cannot emphasize how much I would recommend this burger...it was one of the best I have EVER had!!
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