For this week’s recipe, I want to highlight some easy-to-make meals instead of sweets. I fell in love with turkey burgers last year when I discovered them in St. Olaf’s Caf. Turkey is known to be a healthier meat option than beef, and turkey burgers have just as much flavor, if not more, than the regular beef burgers in the Caf. Turkey is an easy replacement for beef in any meal you make at home. I picked up some ground turkey at the store over the weekend thinking I could make turkey burgers, meatballs or in place of beef in Hamburger Helper.
On Sunday night I decided to prepare turkey burgers and turkey meatballs. After Googling some turkey burger recipes, I decided to go with my own basic seasoning recipe: salt and pepper, one egg yolk, red pepper flakes, garlic and worcestershire sauce.
This basic seasoning allowed me to use the ground turkey for both burgers and meatballs. Seasoning and making the patties and meatballs took me about 30 minutes total, and I had two healthy, substantial meals ready to go for the week. I made two medium-sized burgers and about six medium meatballs.
I cooked the turkey burgers that night, sautéing them with butter in a frying pan (you could also grill them) and adding slices of cheddar cheese and homemade basil pesto for an added kick.
On Monday night I decided to make spaghetti and meatballs. I cooked the meatballs by browning them over medium-high heat, adding spaghetti sauce and cooking, covered, for 10 more minutes. There were even enough meatballs leftover for another meal.
I was able to make three meals out of a pound of ground turkey: two burgers and enough meatballs for two meals. For a busy college student, just 30 minutes of preparation for three meals is a huge time saver.
Check out these turkey burger recipes for more inspiration!
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/actually-delicious-turkey-burgers/
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/01/turkey-bagel-burger/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/southwest-turkey-burgers-recipe/index.html