Rachael's Daytime Talk Show
California Turkey Club Burgers -- 08/28/07

California Turkey Club Burgers

Ingredients

  • 4 slices center-cut bacon
  • 1 pound ground turkey breast
  • 1/2 small yellow onion, grated
  • 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup (a handful) flat-leaf parsley leaves or cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon (a palmful) sweet or smoked paprika
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon, kept separate
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
  • 1 ripe avocado, flesh cut into chunks
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream or half-and-half (eyeball it)
  • 1 tablespoon mustard (eyeball it)
  • 2 slices from 1 small red beefsteak tomato
  • 2 slices from 1 small yellow beefsteak tomato
  • 2 leaves Bibb lettuce
  • 6 slices white bread, toasted
  • 8 toothpicks (get something fun and fancy if you feel like it)

Yields: 4 servings

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°F. Place bacon strips on a broiler pan and cook until crispy. Break each piece of crispy bacon in half and reserve.

Step

While the bacon is getting crispy, get the burgers together: Preheat a nonstick skillet with EVOO over medium-high heat. In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, grated onion, garlic, parsley, paprika, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Divide the mixture into 2 equal portions, then divided that in half, giving you 4 equal portions. Form each portion into patties about 1/4-inch thick. Cook patties in the hot skillet on each side for 4-5 minutes, until cooked through.

Step

While the patties are cooking make the avocado smear: Place the avocado flesh in a food processor or blender along with the cream, lemon juice, mustard, a little salt and pepper. Process until smooth and thick, then reserve for club assembly.

To assemble burgers, place a little of the avocado smear on a piece of toasted bread. Top with one of the patties. Top that with a slice of red tomato, a little more avocado smear and another piece of toast, avocado smear, burger, yellow tomato, bacon, Bibb lettuce, avocado smear and then the last piece of toast. Stick the top of the bread with the toothpicks, just shy of each corner. Cut into 4 triangles; the toothpicks will help hold everything together.