![FalafelSpiced Turkey Burgers](https://cdn.statically.io/img/assets.bonappetit.com/photos/649a0ffa669e7c83891e6e4e/1:1/w_2560%2Cc_limit/20230419-0823-FOB-22749_RET.jpg)
Cookbook author and TV host of Girl Meets Farm, Molly Yeh always thought turkey burgers were terrible—until she developed a version for her cookbook Home Is Where the Eggs Are. Her solution: Add meatball-style ingredients to the mix, incorporating onion for extra moisture and breadcrumbs and egg for added structure that holds on to more juiciness. Falafel herbs and spices amp up the flavor. The patties are browned in a skillet for ease and turn supremely crispy.
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What you’ll need
Mortar and Pestle
$24 At Amazon
Cast Iron Skillet
$30 At Amazon
Fish Spatula
$14 At Amazon
Microplane
$18 At Amazon
Recipe information
Total Time
45 minutes
Yield
Makes 4
Ingredients
Sauce
1
¼
¼
3
2
½
Burgers and Assembly
1
2
4
1
2
½
1
1
½
1
1
4
Special Equipment
Preparation
Sauce
Step 1
Stir zest of 1 small lemon, 1 garlic clove, finely grated, ¼ cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, ¼ cup tahini, 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, 2 Tbsp. finely chopped mint, ½ tsp. sugar, and 1 Tbsp. water in a small bowl until smooth. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Chill until ready to serve.
Do ahead: Yogurt sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.
Burgers and Assembly
Step 2
Coarsely crush 1 Tbsp. coriander seeds and 2 tsp. cumin seeds with mortar and pestle or very coarsely grind in spice mill.
Step 3
Heat 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium. Cook 1 small white or yellow onion, finely chopped, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, 5–7 minutes. Add spice mixture, 2 garlic cloves, finely grated, and ½ tsp. ground cinnamon; cook, stirring often, until spices are fragrant, about 1 minute. Scrape onion mixture into a large bowl; wipe out skillet and reserve.
Step 4
Add 1 large egg, 1 cup finely chopped cilantro, ½ cup panko, and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt to onion mixture, season with freshly ground pepper, and mix to combine. Add 1 lb. ground turkey and gently mix with your hands until just incorporated (do not overmix). Using damp hands, form into four 4"-diameter patties.
Step 5
Heat 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in reserved skillet over medium-high. Season patties generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Working in 2 batches and adding more oil between batches if needed, cook patties, undisturbed, until deeply browned underneath, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook, undisturbed, until deeply browned on second side and cooked through (an instant-read thermometer inserted into center should register 165°), about 4 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Wipe out skillet.
Step 6
Working in batches, toast 4 soft sesame seed buns, split, cut side down, in same skillet until golden brown and crisp around edges, about 3 minutes. Transfer to rack.
Step 7
Arrange burgers, buns, torn romaine lettuce, thinly sliced red onion, and mint leaves on plates with yogurt sauce and hot sauce alongside and let everyone build burgers as desired.
Do ahead: Patties can be formed 2 hours ahead. Transfer to a large plate; cover with plastic wrap and chill.
![home-is-where-the-eggs-are](https://cdn.statically.io/img/assets.bonappetit.com/photos/649d88804073b74e777f45b6/master/w_160%2Cc_limit/Screen%2520Shot%25202023-06-29%2520at%25209.34.38%2520AM.png)
Leave a Review
Reviews (2)
Back to TopGreat recipe, will definitely put this on our rotation!
Jacob
Boston, MA
8/21/2023
Delicious!! Love the falafel-y flavors and they turn out super moist. Served with a riff on the BA smashed cucumber salad with za'atar oil and feta. So summery and good!
mapull
Washington, DC
8/12/2023
MAKE THESE TONIGHT! These are greater than the sum of their parts. Don’t skimp on grinding up the coriander and cumin seeds. These were SO moist. Sauce is on point. Highly recommend using brioche buns.
Anonymous
Los Angeles, CA
7/31/2023
"Kids love to make their own decisions". Absolutely, Molly! And allowing them to make their own decisions like you do will avoid Terrible 2s and teen rebellion. Not necessarily every decision, but they need their own when it doesn't matter. Adults don't like being told what to do, neither do kids. So many parents don't realize this!
Anonymous
Palo Alto, CA
7/22/2023
These were probably the best turkey burgers I’ve ever made. They were moist and had great flavor. I didn’t have a ton of time, so I just used ground cumin and coriander. I’ll make the sauce next time when I’m not as rushed. I just put a thin slice of feta on the burger and it was perfect. I’ll make these many times I’m sure.
Anonymous
Kirkland, WA
7/20/2023
These were wonderful! My whole family loved them. I thought they were perfectly seasoned. I wasn't too crazy about the sauce on its own, but it was amazing on the burger. The mint makes it sing.
Anonymous
Little Rock
7/18/2023