Turkey Burgers

[Dave]

As a few of you may know, I changed my eating lifestyle in December 2007 after being huge for the last 17 years of my life. To date, I have lost 91 pounds, averaging about 2 pounds a week. One of the staples in my diet is turkey burgers. I have managed to keep it interesting by adding different things to the ground turkey before grilling the 8 oz burgers on the BBQ. Here is one of my favorites. BTW, sorry this is so long. I just wanted to be descriptive.

Ingredients: Makes 12 – 8 oz burgers. Reduce amounts for fewer burgers.

1 – 4-pack of 7% lean ground turkey
1 medium sized sweet onion
2 cloves of fresh garlic
1 cup diced jalapeño peppers
1/3 rd to ½ cup worcestershire sauce
Johnny’s seasoning
• (add additional ingredients or add or subtract amounts listed above to your taste.

Mix and set covered overnight, refrigerated

Grill on the BBQ @ 400 degrees F, 9 minutes per side. Starting the grilling process @ 500 degrees leaves nice grilling marks and locks in juices.

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Ground Turkey: I buy the 4 packs at Costco. This is the 7% leanest ground turkey and it is $2.29 a pound. Can't beat that price! Check your local grocery store for the same product and you will see it is sold for $5.99 a pound.

I make these burgers in bulk every week. A 4 pack nets 12, 8 oz burgers. Add or subtract the ingredients according to the amount of ground turkey you are working with.

In a frying pan I put some I can't believe it's not butter (spray is zero calories). I add 1 diced sweet onion (or some green onion), 2 fresh, diced garlic cloves, and maybe 1 cup of diced jalapeño peppers. Obviously, Less peppers for less heat. I Sautee the ingredients until they become opaque or caramelized, maybe 10 minutes on medium low, then add the mixture to the ground turkey. I add maybe a 1/3 to ½ cup of worcestershire sauce and some Johnny's seasoning salt, and mix it well. I let it sit covered overnight in the fridge so the flavors combine, then grill the following day.

Cooking: I get the BBQ temp up to about 500 degrees before placing the patties on the grill and turning the temp down to maintain 400 degrees, and cook for 9 minutes each side. I have found if I turn them any sooner than 9 minutes, they can start to fall apart. After 18 minutes total cook time, I let them cool on a plate, then store them in a zip lock bag in the fridge. I eat at least 2 a day adding a grilled chicken breast here and there to have a little variety. They come out juicy if you don't squish them during the cooking process.

Nutritional value: An 8 oz 7% lean ground turkey burger is only 300 calories. Compared to an 8 oz 9% lean ground beef hamburger which is 620 calories. What a difference! NOTE: After the ground turkey burgers are cooked and sit overnight, they taste very similar to a regular hamburger. Just good healthy eating. Enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Dave I use alot of ground turkey.I use it in my spaghetti and chilis.Its very low in fat and way less cholestral.On my current diet its what I eat ifin I want ground beef.Good writing Dave.Its a lil pricey but not as bad as Buffalo.I even eat Obertos Turkey Jerkey. Turkey is good stuff and very versatile.Like Dave I'm on a new eating lifestyle also.Im down 61 pounds now.I went from a size 50 pants to a size 40 now.I started at 315 lbs.I feel great,I have tons of new energy,and love the way my Diabetes is reversing back to a normal state.Ive cut my insulin usage to 1/3 of its original ammt. Good work Dave.

[Bodofish]

Hey Dave way to go!!!! I've been sentenced to "a diet" too. Everything very controlled. I'm down 25 in three months and still going. Looks like a good one, I'll have to give it a try.

[Dave]

Hey guys,

Congrats to both of you on healthy eating. I am also down from a size 58 waist pant to a 48 and feel amazing. Rac, I buy the ground turkey at Costco for 2.29 a pound. Can't beat that price anywhere. I have researched buffalo but it is expensive compared to the ground turkey at Costco so I haven't bought it as of yet. I know buffalo is great as far as the low cal, low fat thing goes. Keep up the good work guys.

[crappiemaster]

Just wanted to say great job on the weight loss, and plan. I am a wrestling coach and I have always struggled with kids trying to lose weight the wrong way and trying to do it at the last minute. I am impressed with people that are disciplined and have a strong sense of self control. Those burgers sound delicious and I will post that recipe in the wrestling room when the season starts next month. Thanks!!