Turkey Burger with Blackberry Sauce

I came up with this idea as I made 3 batches of blackberry jam this season. It was a long season for berries. I started picking them in mid-August and the season continued till early October. I also wanted to make something different. I used turkey breast, ready slices from the supermarket. I had sumac spice blend in the cupboard and it was not used for a long time. So I decided to use it and clear the cupboard. I made the sauce a bit like a sweet sour sauce and the girls liked the burger. Number 2 asked for second helping!  So it must be good.

Here is the recipe.

Quick Info

Serves:       4

Difficulty: moderate

Cost:           ££

Time:         10 mins to prep

15 mins to cook and plate up

Pro points:

Per recipe:

Per serving:  approx. 9

 Ingredients:

1 pack      Approx. 500g turkey breast slices

4 pcs        Oven bottom muffins or hamburger buns

1 sprig      Flat leaf parsley -chopped

A few leaves Ice burg lettuce

1                  Red onion –sliced into rings

1-2 tbsp     Sumac spice mix

Sugar, Salt and pepper to taste

Cheese slices

 Sauce

2 tbs       Blackberry Jam

200         ml water

1               Small lime

1tsp         Corn flour mixed with I tbsp water

 Method:

1. Score the turkey slices on both sides in a criss-cross manner so as to ensure that the spices and the sauce stick to the meat.
2. Cut each turkey slices into 2, so that it will fit in the burger.
3. Season the turkey with sumac spices and leave in the fridge for about 30 minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
4. Split the muffin or burger bun and set aside to be toasted.
5. Heat a non-stick pan and spray with calorie-controlled spray.
6. Pan fry the turkey slices for about 4-5 minutes on each side.
7. Arrange the slices in the pan and add the onion rings around the empty spaces so that you are cooking the turkey and the onion at the same time. Repeat until all the turkey slices are cooked and the onions caramelised.
8. Remove from the pan and put it in a warm oven.
9. Deglaze the pan with the water and add in the jam. Mix well and add in the lime juice, salt and pepper and if need be, some sugar. The sauce should be sweet, sour and salty. Simmer for a minute or two.
10. When you are happy with the taste, thicken the sauce with a bit of the corn flour mixture.

To assemble the burger:

1. Toast the split oven bottom muffins or burger buns in a toaster or under the grill.
2. Put some fried onions on the bottom bun.
3. Take 2 pieces of the chicken breast (for one bun) and dip in the blackberry sauce so that it is nicely coated.  
4. Place turkey breast on top. Top with the chopped parsley. Top with a slice of cheese if you like cheese, and then the lettuce. Then put on the top half of the bun. You can secure the burger with a tooth-pick or skewer.
5. Serve with fries and sweet corn.