Swap Beef With Turkey For A Leaner Smash Burger Experience
There's nothing worse than biting into a burger, only for it to be dry and flavorless. With smash burgers, this disappointment rarely happens. The method of smashing a round ball of ground meat into a thin patty immediately browns the outside of the burger while maintaining its moist interior, making smash burgers a juicy masterpiece.
If you're looking to recreate this burger magic in your own home but want a lighter option, look to ground turkey. The lean meat is high in protein and lower in saturated fat than ground beef, which is ideal for anyone looking to eat healthier. However, choosing the heart-healthy option doesn't mean turkey smash burgers aren't equally as delicious.
Although it's true that turkey tends to be on the drier side compared to beef, this is an easy fix. Creamed corn can add moisture and flavor to turkey burgers, making up for turkey's naturally dry texture. In addition, a raw egg and breadcrumbs work as a binder to keep turkey burgers juicy and compact.
How to make turkey smash burgers
Add your ground turkey into a bowl, pouring in your seasonings afterwards. Turkey can be on the blander side, so it's important to slightly overcompensate with herbs and spices. Garlic powder and smoked paprika work especially well to enhance the taste of turkey. Afterwards, place your binding ingredients in the bowl. If you don't have creamed corn on hand or don't want to use eggs and breadcrumbs, butter works perfectly well.
Using your hands, mix everything together, ensuring that all the ingredients are combined, and form balls that are around two inches in size. Next, heat oil in a nonstick pan on medium heat and add in your first patty, smashing it down with a spatula. Since the patties are smaller, each side of the burger should only take about four minutes to cook. Right before you take it out of the pan, add a slice of cheese to melt onto the patty.
For that classic tangy smash burger sauce, add mayo, ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, paprika, and salt to a bowl. Whisk everything together and add to your completed smash burger.