Ingredients
Burger Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey (see notes)
- 3 tablespoons shallot, very finely diced (or substitute red onion)
- 1 ½ teaspoons fresh ginger, grated or finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced (or 1 teaspoon granulated garlic)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped lemongrass
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or Thai basil
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 1 scallion, chopped
- ½ – 1 jalapeño, seeded, finely chopped (or substitute ½ teaspoon red chili flakes)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or one tablespoon fish sauce – see notes)
- ½ teaspoon sugar (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper (or substitute black pepper)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Asian Slaw Ingredients
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (or rice wine vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper
Spicy Aioli Ingredients
- ¼ cup mayo, vegan mayo, or tartar sauce
- 1-2 tablespoons sriracha or chili garlic sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat to ensure it is hot and ready for cooking the turkey burgers. If you prefer, you can pan-sear or air fry the patties as alternatives.
- Prepare Burger Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine all the burger ingredients, breaking apart the ground turkey with a fork. Using wet hands, knead the mixture gently until everything is evenly mixed; the mixture will feel very tender.
- Shape Patties: With damp hands, form the mixture into 3-4 evenly sized burgers, compressing and tidying up the edges. Place the shaped patties on a plate and refrigerate until ready to cook.
- Mix Asian Slaw: In a separate medium bowl, toss together the grated carrots, shredded cabbage, thinly sliced scallion, lime juice (or vinegar), olive oil, salt, and pepper. This can be prepared up to a day in advance for enhanced flavors.
- Make Spicy Aioli: In a small bowl, combine the mayo (or vegan mayo/tartar sauce) with sriracha or chili garlic sauce. Mix well; this spicy aioli can be made up to three days ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
- Grill Patties: Place burger patties on the well-greased, preheated grill. Grill each side for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F. The patties will continue cooking to a perfect 165°F after removing from the grill.
- Toast Buns: While the patties finish cooking, toast or grill the burger buns until lightly browned and warm.
- Assemble Burgers: Spread a generous layer of spicy aioli on the bottom bun, add the grilled turkey patty, then top with the Asian slaw and optional cucumber ribbons. Add more aioli if desired, then place the top bun on and serve immediately to enjoy the fresh and vibrant flavors.
Notes
- Ground turkey with a bit of fat (around 85% lean) works best to keep the patties juicy; very lean turkey may result in drier burgers.
- Fish sauce can be used instead of salt for a more pronounced umami flavor, but adjust quantity according to taste.
- You can pan-sear the patties in a skillet over medium heat for 5-6 minutes per side if a grill is unavailable.
- Air frying is also an option; cook patties at 375°F for about 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- The slaw and aioli can be made ahead to save time on the day of serving.
- Optional cucumber ribbons add refreshing crunch and complement the spicy and zesty flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Thai
