Turkey sage burgers with sautéed apples and cheese.

Apples are a wonderfully versatile fruit used in both sweet and savory dishes.  In this quick entreé they lend their sweetness to turkey burgers, making them the perfect quick meal for a fall lunch or dinner.

These pan seared turkey burgers are flavored with sage and shallots and topped with apple slices sautéed in butter and a slice of creamy brie or other cheese of your choice.  In my burgers  I used sliced sharp cheddar cheese, but whatever cheese you have that pairs well with apples would be a good match-up.

Whenever I make these burgers Mr. D. does not know we are eating turkey;  he thinks it is a beef burger.  So I’m sure that you could serve them with traditional burger toppings in place of the apples and cheese, and unless you tell, no-one would suspect, and would “gobble” them up.  😀

TURKEY SAGE BURGERS WITH APPLES AND CHEESE

Yield:   Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 – 1.3 lb. ground turkey
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• dash pepper
• 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp. bread crumbs
• 1/2 medium shallot, finely chopped ( about 2 tsp.)
• 1 Tbsp. fresh sage, finely chopped or 1 tsp. dried sage
• 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil for cooking
• 4 slices cheese  (Brie, cheddar, Jack)
• 4 seeded rolls, split

Apples:

• 1 medium apple, cored, peeled and cut into thin slices
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• pinch salt

Directions:

1.   Sauté apples first by melting butter in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add apple slices in a single layer and sprinkle with salt.  Cook till tender, about 2 minutes each side.  Transfer to bowl and set aside.

Set aside sautéed apples while burgers cook.

2.   Mix ground turkey and seasonings (through sage) in a large bowl.  Form into 4 equal-size patties.

3.  Add vegetable oil to the skillet used by the apples.  Bring heat to medium-high.   Get the pan hot before adding the burgers to get a nice sear, then lower the heat to medium-low.  Cook burgers, turning several times so they don’t burn,  until firm and no longer pink in the middle,  7 – 8 minutes total.

A hot pan will give a nice sear to the burgers.

4.  Remove from heat, top each burger with a quarter of the apples and a slice of cheese.  Cover pan and set aside about 5 minutes to allow cheese to melt.  Place burgers on buns and serve immediately.

Serve with chips and a pickle or a side of coleslaw.

SOURCE:    My Gourmet Connection