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2000s Recipes + Menus

Turkey Cheddar Burgers

Serves4
  • Active time:20 min
  • Start to finish:35 min
April 2004

For burgers

  • 1 large shallot, finely chopped (1/4 cup)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 1/2 lb ground turkey (not labeled “all breast meat”)
  • 5 oz extra-sharp Cheddar, cut into 4 (1/2-inch-thick) slices
  • 4 hamburger or kaiser rolls

For sun-dried tomato mayonnaise

  • 1/4 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • Accompaniment:

    lettuce leaves

Make burgers:

  • Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Cook shallot in oil with salt and pepper in an 8-inch skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to a bowl. Add turkey and mix gently but thoroughly.
  • Turn out turkey mixture onto a sheet of wax paper and divide into 8 equal mounds. Pat 1 mound into a 4-inch patty and top with 1 piece of cheese, then put a second mound on top, patting it onto other patty to enclose cheese. Pinch edges together to seal and shape into a single patty. Make 3 more burgers in same manner.
  • Heat an oiled well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then grill burgers, turning over once, until just cooked through (no longer pink), 8 to 9 minutes total.
  • While burgers are cooking, heat rolls on a baking sheet in oven until crusty, about 5 minutes. Transfer rolls to a rack to cool slightly.

Make mayonnaise and assemble burgers:

  • Purée tomatoes with water, vinegar, and salt in a blender or mini food processor, scraping down sides as necessary, then blend in mayonnaise.
  • Cut rolls in half horizontally (if necessary) and spread cut sides with tomato mayonnaise. Serve burgers on rolls with lettuce.