Santa Barbara Southwest Turkey Burger

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground turkey (not just the breast meat)
• 6 green onions, chopped
• 3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cumin
• 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 8 slices monterey jack pepper cheese
• 3 large anaheim chilies, grilled, skinned, seeded and cut into 8 pieces
• vegetable oil or pam cooking spray, for the grill
• 4 ripe avocados
• 5 green onions, chopped without the tops
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon tabasco jalapeno sauce
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 8 large egg hamburger buns with sesame seeds
• 2 large beefsteak tomatoes, sliced
• dijon mustard

Recipe

• 1 sauté green onions and garlic in olive oil with a pinch of salt and pepper until soft, 4 to 5 minutes over medium heat.
• 2 in a bowl, crumble the turkey and add the salt, pepper and cumin.
• 3 in a separate bowl, beat the eggs, with the worcestershire sauce and barbeque sauce and add to the turkey.
• 4 add the onions and garlic and any remaining liquid in the pan. this helps the burgers from getting dry.
• 5 add the panko and combine gently by hand until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
• 6 separate into 8 patties and let them rest.
• 7 grill the whole peppers until the skins are blackened. immediately put them in a glass bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap and set aside until the skins are ready to peel off easily. peel, core and seed.
• 8 in the meantime, scoop the avocado out of the skins. mash the avocados, leaving some of it chunky.
• 9 add the onions, garlic, cilantro, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin and tabasco sauce. mix well.
• 10 add the lime juice and blend thoroughly.
• 11 cover and set aside.
• 12 heat grill to high, brush with oil or spray with pam, and put on the patties.
• 13 lower heat to medium-high. cook for 4 to 5 minute. don’t move them until they are ready to turn.
• 14 turn gently with a spatula and your hand to make sure they don’t fall apart.
• 15 cook an additional 4 to 5 minutes and check for doneness. (i usually put an extra patty which i sacrifice to make sure it’s cooked properly).
• 16 lower the heat to medium-low and add the cheese and allow to melt.
• 17 brush a small amount of olive oil or mayonnaise on each bun half and lightly toast the buns.
• 18 put a scoop of guacamole on the bottom half of the bun and a slice of the tomato. place the burger on top.
• 19 place a slice of chili on top of the burger.
• 20 spread the mustard on the top half and cover the burger.