Stretch a Buck Turkey and Bean Burgers

Take a wild guess where this recipe came from. =) Rachael Ray is obsessed with burgers so the hubby has no problem with this recipe. This recipe is great if you have leftover rice from a previous recipe or takeout Chinese.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cold leftover white or brown rice
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• Palmful chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons, half a palmful, cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander, half a palmful
• 1 tablespoon grill seasoning, (recommended: Montreal Seasoning by McCormick)
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 clove garlic, grated or finely chopped
• 1 lime, zested and juiced
• 1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 4 red leaf lettuce leaves
• 1 ripe tomato, sliced
• 4 crusty rolls, split

Directions

Combine rice, meat and beans with spices and grill seasoning. Form 4 big patties from the meat and bean mixture then heat 1 tablespoon oil, a turn of the pan, in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patties 7 to 8 minutes on each side.

While burgers cook, combine avocado with garlic, lime zest and juice, jalapeno and red onion. Mash to roughly combine, then stir in the sour cream.

Place burgers on buns with lettuce and tomato and top with sour cream guacamole.

The Italian American: Beef Burgers with Old Country Influences

This is a crowd pleasing burger. It is more than just a beef patty with a slice of cheese.


Burgers
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 small can tomato paste
1 small onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 stems fresh oregano, pulled off stems and chopped
 (1 teaspoon dried)
10 leaves fresh basil, piled, rolled into a log, and slivered
 (1 teaspoon dried)
Coarse salt, to taste
2 shakes crushed red pepper flakes


Toppings
4 long green Italian peppers (cubanelle, we use anaheim)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (once around the pan)
1 can (14 oz) prepared pizza or tomato sauce
6 slices provolone cheese


5 big, crusty, fresh sesame-seeded hard rolls


Directions
1. Mix all the burger ingredients and form into 5 patties.
2. Cook the burgers 5 minutes on one side, 4 on the flip side, over medium-high heat on a non-stick skillet or griddle pan.
3. While burgers cook, fry peppers in a little olive oil in a second skillet over medium-high heat until tender.
4. Warm pizza or tomato sauce in microwave or small saucepan.
5. Pile burgers with peppers and cheese while they are still on the pan. Turn off the heat and cover pan with a loose aluminum foil tent to melt cheese.
6. Place burgers in buns and top with warm pizza or tomato sauce.