Turkey Burger Toppings: Best Cheeses To Compliment Your Patty

Turkey burgers are a great 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 when topped with cheese. While there are thousands of cheeses to choose from, blue cheese crumbles topped with cheddar is a great combination for a turkey burger. Here's why:

The Taste

Blue cheese is known for its bold, zesty flavour, which can add a nice punch to a blander turkey burger. A soft blue cheese, in particular, can pack a punch without overwhelming the flavour of the burger. It can also complement the char-grilled aroma of the patty if it's cooked on a grill.

The Texture

As Erika Kubick, author of "Cheese, Sex, Death" notes, texture is just as important as flavour when it comes to choosing a cheese. Blue cheese has a soft, crumbly texture that can add a nice contrast to the smoothness of the melted cheddar.

The Melting Factor

Cheddar cheese is a classic choice for burgers due to its good melting capability. Its fairly neutral pH allows it to break down easily, making it the perfect topping for a juicy burger. When paired with blue cheese crumbles, the cheddar can help to hold everything in place, creating a cohesive and tasty bite.

Recipe Ideas

• Mix crumbled blue cheese into the turkey burger meat along with other ingredients like garlic, onion, and spices. Top the patty with a slice of cheddar cheese during the last minute of grilling or cooking.
• Create a blue cheese sauce by mixing crumbled blue cheese with mayonnaise, garlic, and your choice of herbs. Spread this sauce on your burger bun, top it with a juicy turkey patty, and finish it off with a slice of melted cheddar cheese.
• For a more indulgent option, stuff your turkey burger with blue cheese crumbles and a slice of cheddar cheese. Grill or cook the burger to perfection, and top it with a honey-mustard sauce.

Brie and cranberry sauce

The perfect pairing

Turkey may not have been a main course at the first Thanksgiving, but it is now a staple of the holiday. So, it's no surprise that a turkey burger topped with cranberry sauce and brie is a match made in heaven. The sweet-and-savoury combination of cranberry sauce and the mushroomy French cheese is a perennial favourite, as seen in dishes like cranberry brie bites. The creaminess of the cheese and the tanginess of the sauce complement each other beautifully, creating a flavour profile that is simply irresistible.

Recipe ideas

There are a few ways to incorporate brie and cranberry sauce into your turkey burger creation. One option is to mix the cranberries into the turkey meat along with some seasoning and then top the cooked patty with melted brie and additional cranberry sauce. This ensures that every bite is packed with flavour. Another approach is to create a double-decker burger, with each meat patty topped with brie and cranberry sauce, resulting in a truly indulgent treat.

Customisation

When it comes to the type of brie to use, double- or triple-cream Brie-style cheeses are recommended to bring in some extra fat and richness. As for the cranberry sauce, you can opt for a smooth variety, or chop up some dried cranberries to mix into the meat and use as a topping. To take the flavour up a notch, consider adding ingredients like rosemary, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, or onion to your mix.

Serving suggestions

A turkey burger with brie and cranberry sauce is delicious on its own, but you can also serve it with a variety of sides. Some suggestions include a green salad, crunchy baked sweet potatoes, or even butternut squash chips. If you're a fan of bread, toast your bun while the turkey cooks to enhance the texture and taste of your burger.

So, there you have it! A mouth-watering combination of brie and cranberry sauce takes your turkey burger to the next level, evoking the flavours of Thanksgiving any time of the year.

Feta cheese

A popular recipe for feta turkey burgers includes spinach, garlic, and eggs, with some recipes adding oregano, breadcrumbs, and Worcestershire sauce. These burgers can be grilled, cooked on the stovetop, or baked in the oven.

For a refreshing twist, serve your feta turkey burgers with crisp cucumber slices, red onion rings, and tzatziki sauce.

Cheddar cheese

Cheddar is a versatile cheese that can be used in many ways with turkey burgers. It has a good melting capability, a tangy flavour, and a neutral pH.

Cheddar can be shredded and mixed into the turkey meat to add texture and flavour. It can also be melted on top of the burger patty, or used to stuff the burger. Medium cheddar is the best option for a balance of flavour and texture.

For a more indulgent option, a recipe suggests using shredded white cheddar, mayonnaise, garlic powder, chilli powder, and scallions in the meat mixture. The recipe also includes a burger sauce made with mayonnaise, hot sauce, and lime juice.

Cheddar is a popular choice for turkey burgers, as it has more flavour than processed American cheese, but is still mild enough to not overpower the flavour of the meat.

Smoked gouda

For a real flavour sensation, reinforce the smokiness of the cheese with a few slices of bacon and finish the sandwich with creamy avocado and fresh tomato slices. Erika Kubick, author of "Cheese, Sex, Death", recommends grilling the patty itself over charcoal for an extra smoke-kissed flair.

If you're looking for a wine pairing, the nutty, smoky gouda on these turkey burgers, combined with spicy horseradish and mustard, suggests a rich white wine rather than a red. Look for a luscious Viognier from Australia.

For a fun twist, try using garden herbs and melty smoked gouda inside the patty. This can be done by flattening a ball of seasoned turkey mince, placing the cheese in the centre, and then flattening another ball of mince on top. Pinch the sides of the patty to seal the cheese inside.

Frequently asked questions