littlebluehazel 
Burgers are always on repeat in our house! I tend to shy away from beef for a few reasons but, I do cook it for my daughter and husband every few weeks because they love a good beef burger or steak. On the off-weeks I will rotate between veggie and turkey burgers. I know what you’re all thinking, turkey is not beef, and you’re right, it’s not and it never will be. But, a juicy turkey burger done right is honestly a great heart healthy substitute. The right seasonings can even trick your mind into thinking it’s beef, or at least something worth eating in its place.
If you are looking for a great “almost” beef substitute, I highly recommend Philly Gourmet turkey burgers with a hefty sprinkle of mccormick burger seasoning on both sides. I introduced this combo to my dad over a camping trip one year and he was so hooked he went home and started buying them himself. They really are, “almost beef”.
But for this recipe we are going for a super juicy burger with its Thanksgiving bff, cranberry. They really are the best combo, and this burger is proof of it! This recipe is super simple just the way I like things to be. They can be made on the grill if you make the patties ahead of time and freeze them (because freshly formed patties will fall through the grill grates) or use a grill pad. I make them inside on a skillet sprayed with olive oil and using a meat thermometer.
My best advice when cooking burgers is to use a meat thermometer. When I make mine, I will brown one side until I see it reach the halfway point, then I flip. I try to only flip once, I remember reading someone a long time ago that the professionals do it that way and it stuck. Once I flip I will take my meat thermometer and insert it in the side of the burger, then I watch until it reaches temp. The second it reaches, I take those bad boys off and get them bunned up and served!
Another awesome tool I use to make my patties is a super simple burger press, it helps a lot with uniformity and I appreciate anything that makes my job a little easier!
Low Carb/ Gluton Free Option: Skip the bun and make it low carb!
Cranberry Turkey Burger
Equipment
- meat thermometer
- burger press
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 lrg egg white
- 1/4 tsp himalayn pink salt subs: sea salt, iodized salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground peppercorn medley subs: freshly ground black pepper, ground black pepper
- 4 lettuce leaves iceburg or romaine
- 4 whole-wheat hamburger buns subs: any hamburger bun of your choice
- 1/2 can ocean spray whole berry cranberry sauce subs: any craberry sauce of your choice
- cooking spray olive oil is my go to cooking spray
Instructions
- Heat your skillet to a medium temp and spray with cooking oil.
- Separate your egg white, disguard the yolk.
- Combine the ground turkey, your egg white, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- Divide the turkey mixture into four equal portions.
- Create a 1/4 inch thick patty with each portion (using the burger press if you have one) or by hand.
- Add patties to the skillet, cook until meat thermomter reaches 165 degrees.
- Place one lettuce leaf on the bottom half of each bun, top with one burger patty. Top each with two tablespoons of whole berry cranberry sauce and then the top bun.
- Enjoy!
Notes
The star of this show are turkey and cranberry, here are a few reasons why we love them so much!
Healthy Facts about Turkey
-
- Turkey is rich in B vitamins and minerals. …
- Pasture-raised birds have even more nutrients. …
- Organic turkey is antibiotic free. …
- Turkey won’t make you sleepy. … that’s a myth!
To read more about turkey nutrition check out this article from health.com!
Healthy Facts about Cranberries
-
- Powerhouse of Antioxidants. …
- Prevents UTIs. …
- Boosts Brain Power. …
- Prevents Cancer. …
- Helps with Weight Loss. …
- Combats Tooth Decay. …
- Nourishes Skin. …
- Boosts Immunity.
- Heart Healthy
To read more about the amazing benefits of cranberry, check out this article from food.ndtv.com!
Now moving on to our complimentary side dish, Carrot Slaw!
The Granny Smith apple and lemon juice in this carrot slaw adds a subtle tartness to it that really pairs nicely with the tartness of the cranberry sauce in the burger. It has a great crunch and makes a large bowl that is enough to give everyone at the table a nice big low cal portion which I love.
Carrot Slaw
Equipment
- grater
Ingredients
- 2.5 tbsp lemon juice fresh or bottled
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil I'm loving extra virgin Terra Delyssa right now
- 1 tbsp honey Preferably locally sourced
- 1/8 tsp himilayn pink salt subs: sea salt, iodized salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground peppercorn medley subs: freshly ground black pepper, ground black pepper
- 1 10 oz pkg matchstick carrots subs: 10 oz freshly grated carrots
- 1 grated Granny Smith apple subs: any tart variety of apple (Pink Lady, Braeburn, McIntosh, Jonathan, Empire, Cortland)
Instructions
- Combine lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt and pepper in a medium bowl, stir with whisk and set aside.
- Use grater with large holes to grate entire Granny Smith apple.
- Scoop shredded apple into bowl, add matchstick carrots.
- Pour in lemon juice mixture and toss everything until mixed well and completely coated.
Carrots have so many nutritional properties! They are rich in beta-carotene, a compound your body changes into vitamin A, which helps keep your eyes healthy. And beta-carotene helps protect your eyes from the sun and lowers your chances of cataracts and other eye problems. Yellow carrots have lutein, which is also good for your eyes.
Source: webmd.com
To read more about the health benefits of carrots, check out this great article from webmd.com!
Link ups! The following are links to the equipment used to make these recipes!
