Spicy Turkey Burgers with Cilantro-Lime Aioli
Spring is already here and with this warm weather all I’m craving is some good burgers to enjoy by the pool. Unfortunately for me, the amenities at my apartment complex have been temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic (crazy times these days). So that means no grilling out and no pool for a little while. As I practice social distancing, I decided to create these Spicy Turkey Burgers to somehow bring that “spring” feeling indoors. If you are lucky enough and have access to a grill, feel free to adapt this recipe to cook and enjoy these burgers outdoors.
How to keep turkey burgers juicy?
When it comes to burgers, my go to protein is turkey. I know you might be skeptical about the juiciness of these burgers, but I assure you these will surprise you. So how do you keep them so juicy? Well, here are a few tips I discovered to avoid dryness.
- Use 85% lean ground turkey: Compared to 93% lean, the little extra fat will make your burgers juicer.
- Add milk: I kept my burgers dairy free by using almond milk. However, feel free to use regular milk or any other alternative milk. This will keep your burgers moist and tender.
- Add butter or ghee: I decided to keep these burgers Whole30 compliant so I opted to use ghee. However, if Whole30 is something you don’t follow or if ghee is not available at hand, feel free to use regular butter.
- Do not overcook: To avoid dryness, keep a thermometer at hand when cooking your burgers. Check the internal temperature and once they get to 165 degrees, remove them from the heat.
- Serve them hot: Unless you are meal prepping, I highly recommend you serve your burgers hot and fresh. There’s no better burger than the one that comes right off the grill!
How to serve these turkey burgers
I served my burgers with sliced tomatoes, slices avocado and cilantro lime aioli. This aioli is truly amazing and brings these burgers to another level. I then wrapped my patty in butter lettuce. Feel free to follow these suggestions or get creative by assembling your burger to your liking. It will be just as delicious.
So there you have it, Spicy Turkey Burgers to bring you a little happiness during these unpredictable and uncertain times. Stay safe and healthy!
Spicy Turkey Burgers with Cilantro-Lime Aioli
Ingredients
For the burgers
- 2 lbs ground turkey (85% lean)
- 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1/2 red onion, finely diced
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1 jalapeno, finely diced
- 2 tbsp melted ghee
- 2 tbsp almond milk
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- olive oil for cooking
For the aioli
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 cup mayo (I used primal kitchen)
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 lime, juiced
- salt and pepper to taste
For serving
- butter lettuce
- sliced tomatoes
- sliced avocados
- buns (optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl combine all burger ingredients, except for the olive oil. Mix well.
- Using your hands, form 6 even sized patties .
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. When hot, transfer patties without overcrowding and cook for about 5 minutes per side. Be careful not to burn.
- While the burgers are cooking, place all the aioli ingredients in a blender. Blend well.
- When burgers are ready, transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels.
- Assemble your burgers and enjoy!