Banh Mi Turkey Burgers

A Bahn Mi is a delicious hybrid of French and Vietnamese cuisine. This sandwich is a toasted French baguette that is topped with spicy mayo, cucumber, chiles, grilled meat (today I chose turkey burgers, but I also love grilled marinated pork, grilled shrimp or baked tofu as well) and fresh herbs (fresh cilantro and mint are my favorites). Serve this with fresh fruit or baked sweet potato fries. Yum!

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Combine ground turkey with tamari (or soy sauce), black pepper and five-spice powder. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge.

3. Combine mayo, hoisin and Sriracha in a small bowl. Set aside.

4. Combine carrots, daikon radish and rice vinegar in a small bowl. Set aside.

5. Cut open the French rolls and remove 1/2 of the inside crumbs. Place rolls open-faced on a baking sheet. Toast rolls in the oven for 5 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Set aside.

6. Wet your hands and shape the ground turkey mixture into 4 thin patties (to match the length of your French rolls). Preheat 2 cast iron skillets (or other nonstick skillets) over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to each pan and add 2 turkey patties to each pan. Cook the patties for 4-5 minutes per side, or until nicely golden brown and cooked through. Once cooked through, remove pans from heat and set aside.

7. Brush the toasted buns liberally with the mayo mixture. Place cucumber and jalapeno slices on the bottom half of the rolls; top with turkey burgers, carrot/daikon radish and fresh cilantro. Press each sandwich together, cut in half and enjoy!

Banh Mi Turkey Burgers

Serves 4

All you need:

1-1/2 pounds 93% lean ground turkey

1 teaspoon reduced-sodium tamari (or soy sauce)

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder

1/2 cup mayo

2 tablespoons hoisin sauce

1 tablespoon Sriracha

1/2 cup peeled and julienned carrot

1/2 cup peeled and julienned Daikon radish

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

4 French sandwich rolls

1/2 English cucumber, thinly sliced

1-2 jalapenos, thinly sliced, or to taste

1-2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, or to taste

All you do:

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Combine ground turkey with tamari (or soy sauce), black pepper and five-spice powder. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge.
3. Combine mayo, hoisin and Sriracha in a small bowl. Set aside.
4. Combine carrots, daikon radish and rice vinegar in a small bowl. Set aside.
5. Cut open the French rolls and remove 1/2 of the inside crumbs. Place rolls open-faced on a baking sheet. Toast rolls in the oven for 5 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Set aside.
6. Wet your hands and shape the ground turkey mixture into 4 thin patties (to match the length of your French rolls). Preheat 2 cast iron skillets (or other nonstick skillets) over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to each pan and add 2 turkey patties to each pan. Cook the patties for 4-5 minutes per side, or until nicely golden brown and cooked through. Once cooked through, remove pans from heat and set aside.
7. Brush the toasted buns liberally with the mayo mixture. Place cucumber and jalapeno slices on the bottom half of the rolls; top with turkey burgers, carrot/daikon radish and fresh cilantro. Press each sandwich together, cut in half and enjoy!