Falafel Spiced Turkey Burger Recipe

Falafel Spiced Turkey Burger

Difficulty: Easy
Serves: 4
Nutrition per serving (1 of 4): Calories 536, Total Fat 25 g, Saturated Fat 5 g, Carbohydrates 43 g, Dietary Fiber 7 g, Sugars 8 g, Protein 37 g, Cholesterol 130 mg, Sodium 706 mg
Total time: 50 min
Active time: 40 min

Patties

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for cooking
• 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup (30 grams) panko breadcrumbs
• 1 pound ground turkey (93% lean, or preferred leaness)
• Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, finely chopped

Tahini Yogurt Sauce

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (any fat percentage works)
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 1 clove garlic, finely grated
• Zest and juice of half a lemon
• 1/8 cup fresh mint, chopped
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Hot sauce, optional

To Serve

• 4 brioche, potato buns, or pita breads
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
• 4 romaine lettuce leaves, torn in half
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, torn

Cooking Instructions

1. For the patties: Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and a pinch of salt, cooking until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and cinnamon, cooking another minute until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix together the egg and panko breadcrumbs. Add the ground turkey, then season with 3/4 teaspoon salt, several grinds of black pepper, crushed red pepper, chopped cilantro, and the cooled onion-spice mixture. Gently mix with hands just until combinedavoid overworking the meat. Shape into 4 balls, then flatten into patties larger in diameter than desired (about 4 inches) because they will shrink during cooking. If preparing ahead, place patties on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cooking.
3. Heat a thin layer of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season each side of the patties with salt and pepper. Cook until browned and cooked through, with an internal temperature of 160F, roughly 5 minutes per side.
4. For the tahini yogurt sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together yogurt, tahini, garlic, lemon zest and juice until smooth. Fold in the chopped fresh mint, then season with salt, pepper, and optional hot sauce to taste.
5. To serve: Lightly toast the buns in the skillet used for the patties, adding more olive oil if needed, until edges are golden and slightly crisp. Assemble each burger with a generous spread of tahini yogurt sauce, a handful of sliced onions, a romaine leaf, and fresh mint leaves. Serve immediately and dive into these vibrant, flavor-packed burgers that blend bold Middle Eastern spices with juicy turkey for an irresistible weeknight win!