As culinary director for Balducci's, Katy Sparks brought take-out food to a whole new level. Instead of the typical fried chicken and heavy potato salad, the market offers horseradish-crusted salmon and grilled fingerling potatoes with lemon. In this recipe she's taken the often-bland turkey burger to a higher plane, with the addition of tamarind.
Combine and shape the turkey mixture gently to ensure moist turkey burgers. Meat that is overworked becomes too compact and results in dry burgers.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes 8
Ingredients
Glaze
Burgers
Preparation
For glaze:
Step 1
Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add ginger and sauté 2 minutes. Add tamarind concentrate, honey, and water and bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until thick enough to coat spoon and reduced to 1¼ cups, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Cool completely (volume will reduce as glaze cools); mix in lime juice.
Do ahead: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
For burgers:
Step 2
Stir mayonnaise, ginger, salt, jalapeño, black pepper, and 4 teaspoons glaze in large bowl to blend; mix in green onions. Add ground turkey; blend gently (do not pack tightly). Shape mixture into eight ½-inch-thick patties. Arrange patties on small baking sheet.
Do ahead: Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
Step 3
Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Grill rolls, cut side down, until golden, about 2 minutes; transfer to work surface. Grill burgers until cooked through and thermometer inserted into center registers 160°F, about 8 minutes per side. Brush each burger with glaze. Place 1 burger, glazed side down, on each roll bottom; brush each burger with more glaze. Top each with onion, tomato, lettuce, and roll top. Serve, passing remaining glaze separately.
Recipe notes
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