“Turkey is much lower in fat than beef mince yet so tasty that I use it for burgers,” says Tess Daly. “I buy turkey mince and add breadcrumbs, yogurt and some egg to keep the burgers succulent, not dry. They are quite substantial and you can make the mixture into six smaller portions, if you prefer.
“The family love getting involved in building their own burgers and adding different toppings, such as avocado, jalapeños, salad and cheese.”
Tremendous turkey burgers
Serves: 4
Prep time: 20 mins, plus chilling | Cooking time: 20 mins
Ingredients:
For the burgers:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, very finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
500g turkey mince
50g frozen sweetcorn, defrosted
50g frozen peas, defrosted
A few sprigs of coriander, very finely chopped
50g breadcrumbs (preferably wholemeal)
25g thick live yoghurt
1 egg
Salt and black pepper
To assemble:
50g cheddar cheese or similar, grated (optional)
1 large avocado, peeled and sliced
Juice of 1 lime
4 burger buns or large lettuce leaves
2 tbsp pickled jalapeños
A few salad leaves
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
Method:
1. First, make the burgers. Heat half the oil in a frying pan and add the onion. Sauté on a medium-low heat until the onion is soft and translucent, then add the garlic. Stir for another minute or two, then remove from the heat and leave to cool.
2. Put the turkey mince in a bowl with the onion and garlic mixture, and all the remaining burger ingredients. Season well and mix thoroughly. The easiest way to do this is with your hands. The mixture will feel very soft to start with – keep turning it over in your hands and lightly kneading it until it starts to feel firmer.
3. Divide the mixture into four and shape into large patties. Chill in the fridge for an hour, if possible – this will make them easier to handle when you cook them.
4. When you’re ready to cook the burgers, remove them from the fridge. Heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan and add the burgers, well-spaced out. Fry for several minutes on each side – you will know when they are ready to flip as they will look cooked up the sides and will come away cleanly from the pan. Make sure they are completely cooked through. If you have a probe thermometer, they should read 72°C, or if you insert the tip of a knife, it should be almost too hot to press between your fingers for longer than a second.
5. If adding the cheese, arrange over the burgers and cover with a lid to help it melt.
6. To assemble, toss the avocado with the lime juice. Place a burger on the bottom half of a bun, then top with the avocado, jalapeños, salad leaves and tomato. Serve with any other condiments you like.
Recipe from ‘4 Steps To A Healthier, Happier You’ by Tess Daly (published by Bantam, £18.99).
