Turkey Burger Delight! ~ Moist & Flavorful 💖

Burger Joint to the Rescue! 🍔

There is a great burger joint in Los Angeles called Islands that I used to frequent. I loved their turkey burgers! During one of my jaunts to this great restaurant, I got curious… as I sometimes do. How are their Turkey Burgers so moist and flavorful. One would think this type of burger would be on the dry side. So the curiosity got the best of me, so I asked the server what their secret is to such an amazing burger with so much fabulous taste. The server said… it’s the applesauce! I was stunned. I’ve never heard of putting apple sauce in ground turkey.

The “Patty” Island Realm

My visit to Islands Restaurant had me rushing to the meat butcher, where I calmly ordered 2 lbs of raw ground turkey. I stopped off and grabbed some applesauce at the grocery and proceeded home, very intrigued and anticipating a whole new world in to the “Patty” realm. I have no idea what spices were used at Islands, so of course I thought real deep what would go best with ground turkey and what flavor was I going for. Now, Islands Restaurant is based around… well, an Island such as Hawaii. They have great burgers and fresh cut fries (double yumm!). The Mai Tais are super delicious too, just sayin’. They have a Hawaiian beach atmosphere and family vibe. Their burger sauce I have yet to figure out.

Turkey Burger Essentials! 👩🏼‍🍳

Shop Kitchen Essentials I used & I love! 👩🏼‍🍳

Jilly’s Corner~ The Turkey Burger Vibe

This Turkey Burger Vibe includes the secret Applesauce ingredient, with spices that have created a fabulous flavor that is a huge crowd pleaser… I’m happy to report. 💖

Jill

Turkey Burger Delight!

Moist and Flavorful Turkey Burger you won't forget has key ingredient that makes all the difference!

Print Recipe

Prep Time 35 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 8 People

Cuisine: American

Calories: 125

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 lbs Fresh Ground Turkey
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 Tbsp Apple Sauce
• 1 Minced Garlic Clove
• 2 tsp Vintner's Kitchen Cabernet Seasoning or Porterhouse Roast Spice
• 1/2 tsp Fines Herbs
• 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Pepper
• 1/4 C. Mushrooms finely chopped
• 1 Small-Med. Sweet White Onion finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp Butter

Equipment

• 1 Large Pyrex bowl
• 1 Medium Pyrex bowl
• 1 Set of measuring spoons
• 1 Broiling pan or BBQ
• 1 Chef Knife
• 1 Chopping Board
• 1 Garlic press

Method

 

1. Pull dried spices and measure out, place in a small bowl and set aside.
2. Pull Apple Sauce and Worcestershire Sauce and set aside.
3. In a large Pyrex mixing bowl, place ground turkey.
4. Chop Mushrooms and place in small sauté pan with butter.
5. Sauté Mushrooms in butter for 4-minutes over medium heat or until browned and caramelized.
6. Once Mushrooms are done remove from heat and set aside
7. Add Apple Sauce, Minced Garlic, and Spices to Ground Turkey
8. Add Worcestershire Sauce
9. Add cooled Mushrooms
10. Mix all ingredients together by hand or with Tilt-Head Stand Mixer to blend
11. Divide Turkey Mix into 8 balls
12. Roll each Turkey ball by hand and flatten with spatula or use a patty press.
13. If using a Patty Press I recommend spraying with olive oil spray to help with sticking.
14. Place patties on a platter to prepare for cooking.
15. Indent middle of each raw burger with your thumb helps keep it's shape and shrinking.
16. On a Broiler or BBQ, spray the surface before placing patties to avoid sticking.
17. Make sure Oven or BBQ is at 350-450 temperature before placing patties.
18. Flip Patties after approx. 5 minutes to cook other side. Cooking times can vary depending on patty thickness and desired doneness. (approx. 5-7 min. each side)
19. Place Cheese on Burger 2 minutes before burger is done cooking
20. Patties are done when internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove immediately to avoid over cooking.
21. Place burgers on platter and put foil over burgers to keep warm and moisture in while preparing to sit for your delicious meal!

Notes

Patty Shape:

To create hamburger patties, you can either roll ground beef into balls and flatten them or use a patty press. The ball-and-flatten method involves forming the meat into a ball, then using your hand or a spatula to flatten it to the desired thickness. A patty press, if available, ensures consistent thickness and shape. 

Patty Rise:

Indent the middle of each raw burger with your thumb on top to help burger keeps it’s shape: indenting turkey patties with your thumb before cooking helps them retain their shape and prevent excessive rising or bulging. This is because as the patty cooks, the edges tend to shrink, potentially causing the center to puff up. By making a shallow indentation in the center, you create space for the meat to expand without bulging too much, resulting in a more even and flat patty. 

Patty Flip:

it’s generally recommended to flip turkey patties while cooking, both on a stovetop or grill. This ensures even cooking and helps prevent them from sticking or falling apart. 

Temperatures:

To prevent turkey patties from drying out when cooking on a BBQ or broiler, aim for a medium-high heat (350-450°F) and ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Using a meat thermometer is crucial for accurate cooking. Resting the patties for a few minutes after cooking helps them reabsorb juices

Fabulous toppings to consider! 🥑 🍍

• Avocado
• Pineapple
• Arugula
• Lettuce of choice
• Cheese such as Swiss, cheddar
• Onions
• Pickles
• Tomato
• Ketchup
• Mayonnaise