Go Back Email Link

Thai-Style Turkey Burgers

Take a bite of these turkey burgers from How Sweet Eats and you'll be transported to Thailand. With their sweet/creamy/spicy peanut sauce and cilantro-cabbage slaw, these burgers are sure to please.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Thai

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb lean ground turkey
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup shredded carrots chopped
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 4 whole wheat buns toasted

Thai Sauce

  • 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup lite canned coconut milk
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 garlic cloves pressed or finely minced
  • 1 tbsp creamy peanut butter
  • 1 tsp knob of ginger grated
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1/2 tbsp soy sauce

Slaw

  • 2 cups chopped napa cabbage
  • 3/4 cups shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped peanuts

Instructions
 

  • Begin by combining all the ingredients together for the sauce: the sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, coconut milk, brown sugar, garlic cloves, peanut butter, ginger, lime juice and soy sauce, and whisk until combined and fairly smooth. Scoop out about 1/4 cup of the sauce and set it aside. Place the rest in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey with the salt, pepper, sliced green onions, chopped shredded carrots and about 2-3 tablespoons of the 1/4 cup of sauce that you set aside. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix but making sure everything is incorporated. I ended up using the full 1/4 cup. The patties can be slightly difficult to put together since they are so “wet,” so to cook them, I heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, added 1 tablespoon of olive oil then quickly formed the patties one at a time, placing them in the skillet. Cook for at least 4-5 minutes, until you can see the edges brown and the turkey becoming opaque so the burgers flip easily. Flip gently but quickly, and cook for another 4-5 minutes or until the burgers are cooked through. (Note: because of how wet the ground turkey is, I am not sure how these would hold up on the outside grill.)
  • To make the slaw, quickly throw together the cabbage, carrots, cilantro and peanuts, tossing well. Add 3-4 tablespoons of the sauce, then toss well to coat. Add additional sauce if desired. Place each burger on a bun and top with a heaping spoonful of the slaw and additional sauce if desired.