Thai Turkey Burger with Peanut Sauce Recipe
This Thai Turkey Burger with Peanut Sauce is a juicy, flavorful twist on a classic burger, combining lean ground turkey with fresh ginger, garlic, and carrots, topped with a rich and tangy peanut sauce. Served with marinated cucumbers and your choice of buns or lettuce wraps, it delivers a delicious Southeast Asian-inspired meal that’s perfect for grilling season or anytime you want a healthy, wholesome burger.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Thai
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Peanut Sauce
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 6 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, grated or minced
- 1 teaspoon sambal oelek or sriracha
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup water
Turkey Patties
- 1 pound ground turkey or chicken
- 1 medium carrot, grated (about 1 cup packed)
- 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, grated or minced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh garlic, grated or minced
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup finished peanut sauce (from above)
Additional
- Marinated cucumbers or thinly sliced English cucumbers tossed in rice vinegar
- Buns or lettuce for wrapping
Instructions
- Make the Peanut Sauce: Combine all peanut sauce ingredients including peanut butter, rice vinegar, honey, soy sauce or tamari, fresh ginger, sambal oelek or sriracha, turmeric, sea salt, and ½ cup water in a small saucepan. Whisk constantly and heat on medium until the peanut butter is fully incorporated and the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare the Patties: Preheat your BBQ grill or stovetop grill pan to medium-high heat. In a medium bowl, combine ground turkey, grated carrot, fresh ginger, fresh garlic, sea salt, and ¼ cup of the finished peanut sauce. Use your hands to gently mix until well combined, being careful not to overwork the meat. Form the mixture into 4 even patties.
- Grill the Patties: Place the patties on the preheated grill. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 160-165°F (71-74°C). Remove the patties from the grill and let them rest for 5 minutes to retain their juices.
- Assemble the Burgers: To build the burgers, spread some peanut sauce on the bottom half of your bun or lettuce leaf. Add the grilled turkey patty, then spoon more peanut sauce on top. Finish with a generous amount of marinated cucumbers or sliced English cucumbers. Top with the remaining bun or wrap in lettuce and serve immediately.
Notes
- For a gluten-free option, use tamari instead of soy sauce and serve with lettuce wraps.
- Adjust the heat level of the peanut sauce by varying the amount of sambal oelek or sriracha.
- If you don’t have a grill, a stovetop grill pan works well to cook the patties.
- Allowing the grilled patties to rest before serving helps keep them juicy.
- Marinated cucumbers add a refreshing crunch but can be omitted or replaced with pickled vegetables if preferred.
