Summer is almost here, which means grilling season is upon us.  There is something so magical about coming home from work and smelling the unmistakable fragrance of a hot grill.  Burgers are a classic and easy dinner option that can be put together and grilled in a pinch.  Turkey burgers are not as popular of a choice when grilling as traditional beef patty burgers, the main reason being the fat content.  As much as we don’t want to admit it, the fat content in a good beef burger is where all the extra juicy goodness comes from.  To get past this minor flaw, I brushed the outside of my burgers with avocado oil before grilling to instill some healthy fat into the patty and seal in some moisture.  I chose avocado oil because of its high smoke temperature, indicating to me that it would likely hold up to the heat on the grill well.  This did the trick, the patties turned out both flavorful and juicy.  My other idea was to incorporate some coconut oil into the patty itself, I haven’t tried this yet but imagine it would have a nice result.

The turkey burgers also tend to need a little extra kick in the flavor department.  The green onions and fresh thyme made for a nice flavor profile to these healthy burgers.  As my herb garden grows, I look forward to trying different flavor combinations in the patties.  For serving I chose a bed of lettuce and grilled vegetables, delicious and very healthy.

Ingredients:

1 pound of lean ground turkey
1 heaping Tbsp of fresh thyme, center stem removed
2 green onions sliced, yellow and white pieces
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp of garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
avocado oil for brushing

Directions:

 

1. Mix ingredients together all except for avocado oil.

2. Separate into patties of your desired size and mold into thin disks.

3. Brush outside with avocado oil and grill on hot grill (400-425 degrees) for 10-15 minutes depending on the thickness of the patties.   Internal temperature should be 165 degrees for eating.

Enjoy and Eat Well!