Best Homemade Turkey Burger and Swiss Cheese Recipe - with Mushrooms and Cilantro!

Before you say, "Yuck! Turkey burger!" let me acknowledge my awareness that not everyone loves turkey, especially ground turkey. I wouldn't say that I necessarily love it more than I do beef, but I do like turkey, and I eat it different ways quite often.

Replacing ground beef with turkey in recipes can successfully cut down on fat and calories without sacrificing flavor. Turkey goes especially well in red sauce dishes, such as spaghetti. Turkey is better left out, in my experience, of the "light sauce" dishes such as those with light gravies or sauces such as Alfredo. At least that has been my experience with ground turkey. But I digress. Let's get to the turkey burger.

Believe it when I say that I have fallen in love with a turkey burger that I accidentally created. Oh my gosh . . . the flavors! You must test it yourself. You can use either fresh ground turkey or frozen turkey patties.I had some Jennie O frozen turkey patties in the freezer that I had eaten a couple of times and thought they were fine. Fine. This new turkey burger creation is much more than fine!

I came across this recipe combination because I had extra items in my fridge that I needed to use. I have found that this is often the reason new recipes are created. It sure was with me. As it was, I had extra fresh mushrooms and fresh cilantro that I needed to use, and thus I decided to try my extras on a turkey burger. Your bread choice, as mine often does, depends on whatever you have available. The first time, I used a wheat bun. Another time, I put my turkey creation on Italian bread. Rye would also be good, if you like rye. I do stick with spreading only mayonnaise on the bread as anything spicy like mustard might mess with the flavors already created.

The flavors created with this turkey burger were so surprisingly tasty. I ate these burgers for three days in a row! I was so pleased with this new combination.

1/4 pound ground turkey or one frozen turkey burger

1 Tbs. olive oil

A pat or two of butter, optional

3-4 fresh mushrooms, sliced

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 garlic clove, optional

ground pepper to taste

a few twists of sea salt

1 slice Swiss cheese

Your favorite bread--wheat, rye, white, or whatever!

Mayonnaise

Ground Cumin (I recently added this ingredient by sprinkling it liberally on both sides of the patty while cooking. I LOVE cumin!)

Place your ground turkey burger patty or frozen patty in pan with olive oil. If using a frozen burger, turn on high heat and place lid on top to keep in heat in order to defrost burger and sear side. After three or four minutes, turn patty.

Depending on amount of water created, you may want to take lid off, as turkey burger may be cooking well at this point. You should also turn heat down to about medium heat by this time.

While your turkey burger patty is first starting to cook, wash and then slice up fresh mushrooms and place into pan with turkey patty. Chop and add cilantro, along with minced garlic and a few pats of butter, if desired. Add pepper on top, preferably cracked pepper. Twist over a few granules of sea salt. I don't cook with much salt and feel the other flavors lend plenty of salt flavor to the mix.

On your chosen bread, spread your mayonnaise. When burger patty is nearly done, set the Swiss cheese on top of burger to allow cheese to melt a little. Take up patty and cheese to place on one side of bread. Scoop up mushroom and cilantro mixture when mushrooms are nicely browned and place on other side of bread. Combine the two and you have a wonderful sandwich.

I am totally serious when I say I cooked and ate these for lunch for three days in a row. You should at least try this turkey burger once!