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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Kentucky Style Turkey Burgers with Redeye Bourbon Onions and Cheddar

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Kentucky Style Turkey Burgers with Redeye Bourbon Onions and Cheddar | The Sweets Life
Although there is a new post on The Sweets Life daily, I am not actually writing a post every single day. The only way I can manage this posting schedule in conjunction with the rest of my life is to knock out multiple posts at once and always stay at least a week or two ahead on the calendar. Consequently, whenever you see a post, I usually made and ate it a week or two ago. These burgers were the exception. I made these yesterday and I immediately knew they needed to be shared with all of you as soon as possible. Both Ryan and I agreed that these were the best turkey burgers we've ever had.

Kentucky Style Turkey Burgers with Redeye Bourbon Onions and Cheddar | The Sweets Life
I've ordered many turkey burgers in restaurants and I have a ton of turkey burger varieties here on the blog. Previous favorites included Goat Cheese Stuffed Turkey Burgers with Roasted Pepper Relish and  Greek Turkey Burgers. These Kentucky Style Turkey Burgers blew all others out of the water!
Kentucky Style Turkey Burgers with Redeye Bourbon Onions and Cheddar | The Sweets Life
It was the bacon. Isn't it always the bacon?! Mixing in a healthy amount of bacon with the lean turkey created a flavor and texture explosion in my mouth! The bourbon onions were the (savory) icing on the cake. Making them is a little tedious and the ingredient list is a little long but don't pass them up--they add a smoky dimension of flavor that is the perfect match for the burgers. This recipe comes from Sendik's Food Market Magazine, an upscale grocery chain in Wisconsin. My grandma often gives me the seasonal magazines they publish and as soon as I saw this recipe I added it to our week's menu plan. It comes from an article about elite cheeseburgers and bringing the best gastropub burgers to home kitchens. There's no doubt that they succeeded with this one!

Make these tonight!...and then come back tomorrow for another equally delicious (beef) burger recipe!

Two Years Ago: Grilled Calzones

Kentucky Style Turkey Burgers with Redeye Bourbon Onions and Cheddar
from Sendik's Food Market Magazine

Ingredients:
For the Redeye Bourbon Onions-
-3 tbsp butter
-1 large onion (about 3 cups), halved and thinly sliced
-salt & freshly ground pepper
-1/4 cup bourbon
-1/2 cup strong black coffee
-2 tsp low-sulfur molasses
-1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
-2 tsp Dijon mustard
-1 tbsp cider vinegar, or more to taste

For the Burgers-
-1 lb ground turkey
-1/4 lb bacon, finely chopped
-1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
-1/4 tsp nutmeg
-1/2 tsp ground coriander
-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
-1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
-1 tsp kosher salt

-4 slices Cheddar cheese
-4 buns, toasted
-spinach or romaine leaves

Directions:
1. To make the onions, melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add onions and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are browned and caramelized. Pour in bourbon and increase heat to medium-high. Cook until bourbon is nearly evaporated. Add coffee, molasses, Worcestershire, mustard, and vinegar, stirring to combine. Boil until liquid is nearly evaporated and onions are well coated. Add salt, pepper, and vinegar to taste. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Combine all burger ingredients in a medium bowl. Gently mix until fully blended. Divide evenly into four patties.
3. Grill over medium-high heat 4 minutes per side. Top with Cheddar and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, until cheese is melted.
4. Top burgers with onions and lettuce/spinach. Serve immediately.