Chipotle and Apple Turkey Burgers
Herb Aioli:
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- ¾ cup rice bran oil or canola oil
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil leaves
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
- 3 green onions, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 apple, such as Granny Smith or Gala
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 scant teaspoon chipotle chile powder, or 1 canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped fresh chives, or chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 4 slices provolone cheese
- 4 whole grain hamburger buns
- ½ head butter lettuce
- ½ cup caramelized onions
- 1 beefsteak tomato, sliced
Instructions:
If you choose to use olive oil, it will still result in a creamy sauce, but it won’t really resemble traditional aioli.
- To make the aioli, wrap the bottom of a large bowl with a damp dish towel to help keep it in place. In the bowl, whisk together the egg yolk, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Whisk in a few drops of the oil to establish an emulsion. While you continue to quickly whisk the mixture with one hand, slowly stream in the rest of the oil with the other. Once you have a mayonnaise-like consistency, whisk in the mustard, chives, and basil. Cover and store in the fridge until ready to use.
- To make the burgers, heat the olive oil in a sauté pan. Add the celery, green onions, and garlic and sauté until just browned, about 5 min-utes. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool.
- Using the large holes on a box grater, grate the apple. Combine the grated apple, turkey, chipotle, salt, pepper, thyme, and cooked vegetables in a large mixing bowl and stir everything together. Form the mixture into four patties, each 1½ inches thick, and let them rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes, or keep them covered in the fridge until ready to grill.
- Heat your grill to medium-high. Cook the burgers until the interior reaches 175°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 5 minutes on each side. Put a slice of cheese on top of each patty in the last minute of cooking time to melt. Transfer the patties to a plate and cover loosely with foil.
- Grill or toast the buns. Spread each side of the buns with a bit of aioli and layer with a piece of lettuce, a turkey burger, some caramelized onions, and a slice of tomato. Serve immediately.