Turkey Burger's Best Friend: Cheeses To Compliment Your Patty

Turkey burgers are a tasty alternative to beef burgers, especially when topped with cheese. But with so many cheeses to choose from, which is the best?

Blue cheese crumbles topped with cheddar

Turkey burgers are a great alternative to beef burgers, especially if you're looking to cut down on red meat. While turkey is a pretty neutral flavour, it is also leaner and can be drier and less juicy than beef. Choosing a cheese to top your turkey burger with is important, as it can add flavour and moisture to the patty.

Cheddar cheese is a classic topping for burgers and goes well with turkey. It has a good melting capability due to its fairly neutral pH, and it adds a tangy flavour to the burger. A medium cheddar strikes the best balance between flavour and texture, as older cheddars tend to lose their potential for a pretty cheese pull due to the breakdown of protein strands.

Combining blue cheese crumbles topped with cheddar is a delicious option for a turkey burger. The blue cheese adds a bold and zesty flavour, while the cheddar brings tanginess and melts well. This combination creates a tasty and juicy burger that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

To make the perfect turkey burger, it is recommended to add shredded zucchini to the ground turkey to ensure the patties are moist and don't fall apart. You can also add in onion, garlic, and spices like paprika and crushed red pepper flakes to give the burgers extra flavour. Don't forget to grill your buns and top your burger with a simple cilantro-jalapeño slaw for a sweet, tangy, and fresh addition.

Brie and cranberry sauce

The Perfect Pairing

Turkey, brie, and cranberry sauce is a classic combination that evokes the flavours of Thanksgiving. This delightful trio is an excellent choice for a turkey burger, adding a touch of sweetness and a savoury kick to the dish.

Brie Brilliance

Brie is a soft, creamy cheese with a rich, buttery texture and a mild, mushroomy flavour. When melted, it becomes deliciously gooey and oozy, making it the perfect topping for a burger. Its mild flavour and excellent melting capabilities make it a top choice for those seeking a cheese that adds creaminess without overwhelming the other flavours in the burger.

Cranberry Sauce: Sweet and Savoury

The addition of cranberry sauce to a turkey burger brings a welcome burst of tart sweetness. The cranberries can be mixed into the turkey patty, added as a topping, or used in both ways for a flavour explosion in every bite. The sweet and tangy cranberry sauce pairs beautifully with the salty, creamy brie, creating a delightful contrast of flavours and textures.

Recipe Recommendations

When preparing a turkey burger with brie and cranberry sauce, there are a few recipes worth considering. One option is to create a brie-stuffed turkey burger, where the cheese is melted inside the patty, oozing out with each bite. Another idea is to top the burger with brie and cranberry sauce, allowing the flavours to meld together. To enhance the Thanksgiving theme, try adding some chopped rosemary to the patty mixture or sprinkling it on top of the finished burger.

Final Thoughts

For those seeking a delicious and unique twist on the traditional turkey burger, the combination of brie and cranberry sauce is a perfect choice. This pairing offers a wonderful balance of sweet and savoury flavours, creating a gourmet burger experience that will tantalise your taste buds and impress your guests. So, fire up the grill and get ready to indulge in a mouthwatering treat!

Feta

If you're making a turkey burger with feta, you might want to add some oatmeal to the ground turkey several hours before making the patties. This will give the burger a texture more akin to red meat.

Cheddar

A young or medium cheddar is best for the optimal balance of flavour and texture. A young cheddar will bring a lot of tang to the burger, while a medium cheddar will offer more flavour without sacrificing the potential for a pretty cheese pull. An aged cheddar will still melt, but the older the cheese, the less potential you have for that desirable cheese stretch due to the breakdown of protein strands.

For a simple cheddar turkey burger, try mixing ground turkey with shredded cheddar, garlic powder, onion powder, celery seed, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, breadcrumbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Form the mixture into patties and pan-fry, broil, or grill. You could also add in some zucchini, onion, garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes, and serve with a cilantro-jalapeño slaw for a juicy, flavourful burger.

For a skillet cheddar turkey burger, mix ground turkey with shredded white cheddar, mayonnaise, garlic powder, chilli powder, and salt. Form into patties and cook in a nonstick skillet. Serve with a burger sauce made from mayonnaise, hot sauce, and lime juice, and top with lettuce, tomato, and red onion.

Smoked gouda

To make the most of the smokiness of the gouda, you could reinforce it with a few slices of bacon and finish the sandwich with creamy avocado and fresh tomato slices. You could also cook the patty over a charcoal grill for an extra smoke-kissed flair.

If you want to get creative, you could try stuffing the cheese inside the burger patty. One recipe suggests using two slices of cheese, each 2 inches by 2 inches, in the middle of the patty. You can also add herbs to the patty to make herb-stuffed turkey burgers.

For a simple grilled turkey burger with smoked gouda, try the following recipe:

• Light a grill or preheat a grill pan.
• Brush the cut sides of the buns and a red onion, cut into 1/3-inch-thick slabs, with oil.
• Grill the onion until charred and softened, about 5 minutes.
• Grill the buns until toasted, about 30 seconds.
• Form the ground turkey into four 1-inch-thick patties and brush with oil.
• Season the patties with salt and pepper and grill over high heat, turning once, until nearly cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Top with the gouda, close the grill, and cook until the cheese is melted and the burgers are cooked through, about 1 minute longer.
• Spread a mixture of Dijon mustard, whole-grain mustard, and honey on the bottom half of the buns.
• Top with the burgers and onions, then close the burgers and serve.

Frequently asked questions