Running is my favorite way to unwind after work. Cooking is a close second. The problem is this: when I run, I don’t cook. Since I proclaimed today rest day, I had plenty of time to have fun in the kitchen. Yay!
I had one package of ground turkey and the innards of my refrigerator to work with. The result:
Little Italy Turkey Burgers.
Ingredients (for eight small-ish patties):
- 1 package of lean ground turkey – I used 93/7.
- 1 c. onion, finely chopped
- 2 c. spinach, chopped and wilted
- 1/2 red bell pepper, roasted and chopped
- 1/4 c. tomato sauce – I used Newman’s Own Marinara.
- 2 T. whole wheat bread crumbs
- 1 T. minced garlic
- 1 T. chopped parsley
- 1 tsp. dried basil – Fresh basil would be great, but I was all out!
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400* and roast your red peppers.
- While peppers roast, chop spinach and onion.
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Mix well.
- Grill burgers on over medium-high heat. I grilled mine for about five minutes per side.
Eat and enjoy!
I placed my burger on a toasted sandwich thin and topped it with grilled onions, roasted red peppers, and shredded mozzarella. It was super tasty! The burger was juicy and had great flavor from the roasted peppers, basil, and garlic. So many healthy ingredients packed into one little patty! I think I’ll crumble one over a salad with balsamic vinegar for tomorrow’s lunch. I can’t wait to eat another it!
On the side, I had a simple mix of onions, zucchini, and summer squash. The veggies were drizzled in olive oil and cooked in a foil packet on the grill. I put them on the heat first because I wanted everything done at the same time. It worked. Timing isn’t my best quality, but when I took everything off the grill, it was perfectly ready to eat.
I’m hoping to hit the hay early tonight and start tomorrow with a morning run. My legs are ready to go!
