ARCHIVE: One Good Burger

Archived. Originally posted on Homemaker's Who Work on 9/24/09, but recipe archived here in case that site goes down.

Everyone likes a good burger every now and then, whether it's a beef burger, turkey burger or veggie burger. The trick is finding one that is good and good for you.

I saw this recipe on the Today show, as presented by Martha Stewart. I thought that it looked good, and Matt Lauer gave his approval. So I decided to give it a try. And am I glad that I did! My boyfriend gave this burger two thumbs up, and I think he would probably choose it over most beef burgers.

So here is the recipe for one good burger, made a little better for you by substituting ground turkey or chicken for the usual ground beef.

Chicken Burger with Roasted Poblano and Onion

1 poblano chile pepper

4 tsp vegetable oil

1 large white onion, halved and thinly sliced lengthwise

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 1/4 pounds ground chicken breast (I used ground turkey instead, since I couldn't find ground chicken)

4 slices sharp yellow cheddar

2 tsp butter, room temperature

4 whole-wheat burger buns, split

Directions:

1. Over low heat or under the broiler, roast chile until charred, about 6 minutes, turning frequently. (I grilled mine on my George Foreman grill.) Place in a bowl and cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let chile steam 20 minutes, then rub with a paper towel to remove skin. Remove stem and seeds. Slice chile into 2-inch strips and return to bowl.

1. In a large skillet, heat 2 tsp oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook until onion is soft and translucent, about 10 minutes.

Add onion to bowl with chile and stir to combine.

1. Form ground chicken/turkey into four 4-inch wide patties and season with salt and pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add 2 tsp oil and swirl to coat. Working in batches, cook burgers 2 minutes. Flip, top each with cheese, and cook until cooked through, about 4 minutes more.


2. Meanwhile, heat broiler. Butter inside of buns and place on a baking sheet, buttered side up. Toast under broiler. Place burgers on buns and top with onion and chile mixture.

Very good and flavorful burger! Juicy burger-- not dry like you might expect turkey. Perhaps this is because I chose ground turkey (including dark meat) instead of ground turkey breast. Or maybe it was the addition of a little oil to the pan. The poblano pepper is the key here, and adds a great flavor. My boyfriend loved this burger, so I think this is a healthier option to prepare for the man in your life. I would expect kids to like the burger as well, and if your child doesn't like peppers or any spice, just hold the peppers, although they only have a mild heat.

So do you have a secret ingredient that makes your burgers extra special?