Turkey-Zucchini Burgers with Cumin and Green Onion

This is my ideal summer dish. e. Thanks to that zucchini, these burgers are moist and very difficult to dry out, even when re-heating, whiIt’s healthy, packed with flavor, and makes use of the bounty of zucchini that appears in gardens and stores each Junch isn’t something that can be said about most turkey burgers.

Turkey-Zucchini Burgers

And the spices! The spices. The cumin here is at the forefront, and turns out to be a beautiful spice to go with turkey -- who knew? There’s some cayenne for a little punch of heat, and a cooling, tangy yogurt sauce flecked with sumac to go alongside it.

Spices used in this recipe


Cumin Ground
Salt, Kosher
Cayenne Pepper
Peppercorns, Tellicherry, Grinder
Sumac, Ground
Salt, Kosher
Peppercorns, Tellicherry, Grinder

Ingredients

Burgers:

  • 1 lb. ground turkey
  • 1 large zucchini, coarsely grated (scant 2 cups in total)
  • 3 green onions, white and light green parts thinly sliced
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 Tbs. chopped mint
  • 2 Tbs. chopped cilantro
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated on a Microplane
  • 1 tsp. Vanns Ground Cumin
  • 1 tsp. Vanns Kosher Salt
  • ½ tsp. Vanns Black Tellicherry Peppercorns, freshly ground
  • ½ tsp. Vanns Cayenne
  • 6 Tbs. vegetable oil, or as needed for searing

Sumac Yogurt Sauce:

Preparation

  1. Start by making the sauce, as the longer it sits in the fridge, the better the flavors will blend. Stir ingredients together in a bowl until well combined and refrigerate. Taste for salt before serving.
  2. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Combine all the burger ingredients, except for the vegetable oil, in a large bowl. Divide into 8 burgers and place on a large plate. The burgers will feel quite wet -- that’s a good thing! They’ll retain a lot of that moisture even after cooking to make really juicy burgers.
  3. Put enough vegetable oil in the bottom of a large frying pan to form a layer about 1/16-inch thick. Heat over medium heat until hot but not smoking, then sear the burgers on both sides, for about 3 minutes per side, until browned.
  4. Transfer burgers to oven to finish cooking, about 10 minutes, or until internal temperature registers 165°F on a meat thermometer.
  5. Serve burgers warm or at room temperature, with the sauce drizzled over them or on the side. I like to tuck mine in a toasted whole wheat pita pocket with some crispy lettuce and a hearty dollop of sauce for a satisfying sandwich.

Serves 4 as a main course, with 2 small burgers per person. Adapted from Jerusalem.

You might also like

Fajita Turkey Burgers

Vanns Fajita Seasoning doesn't need to stay inside of a tortilla - it makes for a great fajita-inspired turkey burger as well!

Shakshuka!

It’s going to be a cold one on the East Coast this weekend — time for a warming breakfast that gives you the power and energy to get through the day. Here’s one amazing option — Shakshuka! Not only is it fun to say, it’s a delicious, savory, healthy egg dish that makes for an exciting and comforting meal.

Perfectly Seasoned Burgers

Vanns Quebec Steak Seasoning is the secret ingredient that makes the flavor of these burger patties shine.

Ratatouille Tian

This is a beautiful dish in both appearance and flavor. It makes the best of three vegetables that are at their best during summer -- tomatoes, zucchini, and eggplant -- and combines them with Herbes de Provence to meld the flavors together into the perfect summer vegetable dish.

Harissa Lamb Burgers with Feta Tzatziki and Sumac Onions

Vanns Harissa adds spice and flavor to this Middle Eastern-inspired burger, perfect for your grill or your stovetop.

Falafel Sandwiches with Awesome Condiments

These falafel sandwiches are straight-up amazing. The falafel is flavorful, crisp, and light, so good that even by itself it’s a wonderful thing.

Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma

There’s a small restaurant chain in Los Angeles called Zankou Chicken that is well known for its super secret chicken shawarma recipe, which is crispy and juicy and beautifully spiced and comes with a crazy-good garlic sauce that will make your breath reek for at least the next few hours if not days. 

Preserved Lemons

There’s nothing better than a homemade holiday gift, especially one that keeps giving and giving throughout the year.

Tilapia & Black Bean Rice Bowl With Butternut Squash & Two Salsas

Rice bowls are starting to be a big thing these days, and there's a good reason. Take something a little saucy, something with some great texture, something with protein or some bite to it, arrange on top of rice, add the condiments of your choice, and enjoy your healthy, delicious, and filling meal!

Cumin, Sumac, and Chili Lamb Meatballs

Juicy lamb meatballs seasoned with a Turkish spice blend make for a delicious sandwich filling or appetizer.