Thai Turkey Burgers with Peanut Sauce

When I found this recipe I was drooling like crazy.  It's not often that I find a healthy recipe that makes me jump from my seat ready to head to the store & buy everything I need to make the meal.  I am not a health nut, although I have lost 43lbs in the last 10 months even eating all the recipes I post here, but this recipe for sure had potential to be amazingly flavorful with the added bonus of being healthy.  These burgers did not disappoint at all!  I am talking a hearty burger with amazing texture from the vegetables, nutty-smooth peanut sauce with a hint of spicy heat from the sriracha.  These burgers are bold & filling.  I didn't even miss the ground beef.  They are that good!
 

Thai Turkey Burgers with Peanut Sauce

Recipe lightly adapted from Iowa Girl Eats by: Amber (Dessert Now, Dinner Later!)

For the Burgers:

• 1lb lean ground turkey breast (I only used 3/4 lb, but I only made 3 patties)
• 1/2 cup shredded carrot
• 1/2 cup finely chopped broccoli
• 3 Tbsp chopped cilantro
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
• Sandwich Thins
• Crisp lettuce, or spinach leaves

For the Peanut Sauce:

• 3 Tbsp smooth peanut butter
• 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp water
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp hot chili sauce (sriracha)
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger

1. Create peanut sauce by combining peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, water, garlic, sesame oil, sriracha, honey & ground ginger in a food processor or blender.  Blend until very smooth.  Reserve 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp & set aside.
2. Combine remaining peanut sauce with turkey, carrots, broccoli, cilantro, green onions, salt, red pepper flakes, & black pepper in a large bowl.  Mix well & form into 4 patties (if using 1lb of turkey.)  
3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat & spray with non-stick spray.  Cook patties for 3-4 minutes on one side, then spray the top with more non-stick spray, flip & cook 3-4 minutes more or until burgers are no longer pink in the middle.  (*May grill on an outdoor grill, but make sure that grill rack is heavily oiled.)
4. Place a burger patty on each bun & top with 2 teaspoons of the reserved peanut sauce.  Add lettuce or baby spinach for crunch & serve.

When I found this recipe I was drooling like crazy.  It's not often that I find a healthy recipe that makes me jump from my seat ready to head to the store & buy everything I need to make the meal.  I am not a health nut, although I have lost 43lbs in the last 10 months even eating all the recipes I post here, but this recipe for sure had potential to be amazingly flavorful with the added bonus of being healthy.  These burgers did not disappoint at all!  I am talking a hearty burger with amazing texture from the vegetables, nutty-smooth peanut sauce with a hint of spicy heat from the sriracha.  These burgers are bold & filling.  I didn't even miss the ground beef.  They are that good!
 

Thai Turkey Burgers with Peanut Sauce

Recipe lightly adapted from Iowa Girl Eats by: Amber (Dessert Now, Dinner Later!)

For the Burgers:

• 1lb lean ground turkey breast (I only used 3/4 lb, but I only made 3 patties)
• 1/2 cup shredded carrot
• 1/2 cup finely chopped broccoli
• 3 Tbsp chopped cilantro
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
• Sandwich Thins
• Crisp lettuce, or spinach leaves

For the Peanut Sauce:

• 3 Tbsp smooth peanut butter
• 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp water
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp hot chili sauce (sriracha)
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger

1. Create peanut sauce by combining peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, water, garlic, sesame oil, sriracha, honey & ground ginger in a food processor or blender.  Blend until very smooth.  Reserve 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp & set aside.
2. Combine remaining peanut sauce with turkey, carrots, broccoli, cilantro, green onions, salt, red pepper flakes, & black pepper in a large bowl.  Mix well & form into 4 patties (if using 1lb of turkey.)  
3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat & spray with non-stick spray.  Cook patties for 3-4 minutes on one side, then spray the top with more non-stick spray, flip & cook 3-4 minutes more or until burgers are no longer pink in the middle.  (*May grill on an outdoor grill, but make sure that grill rack is heavily oiled.)
4. Place a burger patty on each bun & top with 2 teaspoons of the reserved peanut sauce.  Add lettuce or baby spinach for crunch & serve.