Jalapeno Pesto Stuffed Turkey Burger

Whooo yeah baby!  May is National Hamburger Month!  Now we've got an excuse to eat lots of  burgers.  I like to play around with the food profile for burgers too.  So I developed the Japaleno Pesto Stuffed Turkey Burger. 

Want more recipes?  Follow me on Facebook===> DeAnna Lee

If you dig a little spice in your life, then you will love this pesto! My fiance and I love spicy food.  So a little jalapeno doesn't scare us.  You can control the heat level on the pesto if you remove all of the seeds and the ribs inside of the jalapeno.  It would end up being like a mild salsa you get at your favorite local Mexican restaurant. 

However if you are like us and you LIKE IT HOT, then leave those seeds and ribs intact and go for it!

I simply love the color of the jalapeno pesto!

I stuffed each burger with the pesto and a little queso fresco.   Then formed a patty on top of the stuffing.

In a cast iron skillet, these burgers take 10 minutes to cook.

Then I served them with a black bean and corn succotash that had a little celery, garlic, onion, chicken stock, cumin, and some of the jalapeno pesto! Seriously delicious!

Jalapeno Pesto Stuffed Turkey Burger

 

1 lb. ground turkey

2 jalapenos

1 cup fresh cilantro

2 garlic cloves

1 lemon

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

1/4 cup pine nuts

1/4 cup olive oil

sliced red onion

sliced avocado

1/4 cup of queso fresco crumbled

hamburger buns

salt and pepper

 

1.  In a food processor grind the jalapeno, cilantro, garlic, juice of one lemon (make sure to zest the lemon and reserve), parmesan, pine nuts, and olive oil.

2.  In a large bowl mix season the ground turkey with salt, pepper, and the zest of the lemon you used for the pesto.  Divide meat into four sections.  Form two patties that have an indention for the stuffing.  Place a tablespoon or so of the jalapeno pesto inside each of the patties and then top with some of the queso fresco.  Then with the other two sections of meat make a lid for each of the burgers forming the meat around the stuffing until you can not see it.  Place burgers in fridge for 10 -2 0 minutes to firm.

3.  Add a few tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a non-stick skillet.   Brown burgers on each side five minutes.

4. Serve the burger with sliced red onion, avocado, queso fresco, and use the jalapeno pesto as a sauce for your favorite bun!

 

Want more recipes?  Follow me on Facebook===> DeAnna Lee