Maria NasirWho doesn’t crave a thick, juicy burger, dripping with creamy, cheesy sauces once a while? Some of us get scared of the unbelievably whopping amount of calories a burger contains and some of us surrender before the temptation.
But a burger doesn’t have to be junk food, loaded with empty calories, sodium and fat. It can be a proper nutritious meal and still be as charming as any burger on the billboard of a big franchise.
This recipe for Healthy Chicken Burger with Spicy Tahini Sauce is my attempt to achieve that balance of deliciousness and health. The lean meat burger patties has herbs and garlic as main tastemakers. You can also use turkey or fish instead of chicken with the same recipe. Using a chicken patty, instead of lean beef, can save you 5 grams of fat. Plus you’ll never miss the added fat with this spicy tahini sauce which is the key to the yumminess of this burger.
It’s the successful result of my experiment to create a low calorie, sauce/dip for all sorts of finger foods. It is creamy, lemony and hot, a great substitute for all those oil and cheese based sauces that make your burger a health hazard.
Enjoy entertaining this spring/summer with these quick and easy, juicy and spicy, guilt-free, healthy burgers.
For Chicken Patties :
1 kg lean chicken mince
4 cloves garlic
1 stalk spring onion, chopped
A handful coriander or parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon red chilli powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons gram flour
2 tablespoons olive oil for pan frying
For Spicy Tahini Sauce :
6 tablespoons tahini
2 cloves garlic
4 tablespoons lemon juice
6 red chilli peppers
Salt to taste
Warm water to dilute the sauce
For Burger
8 whole wheat burger buns
1 cucumber thinly sliced
1 cup caramelised onions
1 cup bean sprouts
Iceberg or lettuce leaves
Jalapeño pickle ( optional)
This Is What You Do :
Add all the ingredients of chicken patties to a food processor, except oil.
Whiz to blend. Make thick patties with the mince mix.
Lightly grease and heat a frying pan or skillet grill. Cook the patties covered till golden on both sides, around 10-12 minutes. Keep warm.
While the patties are getting done, prepare the Spicy Tahini Sauce.
Blend all the ingredients of tahini sauce in a blender or food processor. Gradually add water while the machine is on till you achieve the required consistency. I keep mine as thick as mayonnaise.
Prepare the vegetables and other burger ingredients. Toast the buns.
To assemble layer iceberg leaves, cucumbers and pickles on one half of the bun. Place the thick and juicy chicken patties over it. Top with caramelised onions.
Generously spread the Spicy Tahini Sauce on the other half. Serve with bean sprouts on side.
Makes 8 burgers