Monday, January 24, 2011

Chicken Fajita Burgers


Burgers have become one of my favorite things to experiment with. With a little creativity, I have found that I can create the American staple with multiple personalities. The best part is that you don't need a big bun or fatty meat to enjoy the perfect patty. Many of our favorite burgers are bun-less creations made with ground chicken or turkey and topped with something full of flavor. The key to our happy burgers is mixing the meat with tasty, fresh ingredients and bright, vibrant spices. My most recent burger creation was inspired by something I saw on Rachel Ray a few weeks ago. She made a similar recipe using ground beef, good veggies and a packet of fajita seasoning. I swapped out the beef for chicken, mixed in some fresh shallots, serrano peppers and cilantro and mixed up a quick fajita seasoning. If you don't have all of the spices on hand, a packet of fajita seasoning will do the trick. The great thing about making your own seasoning is that you can control how much salt goes into it, making for a healthier option! I topped our Chicken Fajita Burgers with homemade Pico de Gallo and avocados, and served them alongside fresh cut and roasted sweet potato fries.

Chicken Fajita Burgers

1 pound ground chicken
2 shallots, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 serrano pepper, minced
2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. red pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 egg, beaten

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. I find that most burgers taste best if you have time to let the flavors love each other for at least 30 minutes at room temperature. Divide into 4 sections and form into hamburger patties. A little trick I learned from Rachel Ray, if you make the patties thicker on the outside and slightly thinner in the middle, the burger will plump in all the right places while grilling. Cook on a grill pan or in a skillet for 6-7 minutes on each side.


2 comments:

  1. lovie, I wish you were here to cook for me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. We love any food that includes the word "fajita." Brilliant idea!

    ReplyDelete