Friday Night "Lites"

Friday nights are a perfect time for burgers at home with the family.  This past Friday night, I came home from work to find this delicious meal waiting for me, thanks to my wonderful husband!

I got the basic recipe for the turkey patties from Rachael Ray several years ago, and have adapted it to fit our tastes.  This healthier alternative to regular burgers is so good, you’ll WANT to have them instead of your usual fare!

Turkey burgers often tend to be very dry and flavorless, but these are really juicy and flavorful.  Just don’t cook them too long or like anything else, they will tend to dry out.

Turkey Patties

1-1/2 pounds ground turkey breast

1/4 cup fat free sour cream

4 scallions, chopped (be sure to use both the white & green parts)

coarsely ground black pepper (or whatever seasonings you like)

2 Tablespoons canola oil

Mix all ingredients (except the canola oil) in a large mixing bowl.  I always do this with my hands…(it’s fun, and a great stress reliever - but ALWAYS be sure to wash your hands really good before and after you do this!)

Divide the meat mixture into 4 equal portions and shape into 1/2” thick patties.

Add canola oil to a large skillet over medium heat.  Swirl the oil around the pan to get a thin coat across the bottom.  Cook the patties until golden brown and cooked through.  (If you’re a grill person, you could also toss ‘em on the grill.)

Before removing from the pan, top with a slice of your favorite cheese (muenster and havarti are my favorites for this, but any type is fine) and leave it on the heat just until the cheese melts.

Remove from heat and serve on your favorite bun.  (My preference is a toasted whole wheat bun.)

To keep things fairly healthy, my hubby and I generally forego the fries or chips with our burgers when we make them at home.  Instead we serve them with green beans or asparagus spears lightly sautéed with a little extra virgin olive oil and LOTS of chopped garlic.  Sometimes we add a few fresh herbs (from our garden) as well.  Just depends on the mood.  Be sure to leave the veggies “whole” so they keep the “finger food” option open.  This may be a little messy (because of the olive oil), but it’s finger-lickin’ good!

If you want to check out Rachael’s take on these, you can find her recipe at http://rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=2234

Have a FANTASTIC holiday weekend!!
Blessings,
--Faithy