Quick & Healthy Dinner: Turkey Quinoa Burgers w/ Hemp Heart Tzatziki
I got asked at the beginning of summer to share some quick and easy dinner ideas, and well I dropped the ball big time. I got hit with morning sickness shortly after, and cooking was the LAST thing on my mind. I am finally feeling much better and living with my parents for the next few weeks until Everly and I join Jason. It makes it so much easier to cook/take pictures when someone is watching my little monkey! This is a dinner Jason and I ate a lot when he was in college. For some reason it fell out of rotation and I totally forgot about it. Does that happen to anyone else? I feel like I have SO many great lunch and dinner ideas, but when I actually have to come up with a menu for the week I always have no idea what to make. Please tell me I am not alone in this! Maybe that'll be a future blog post? Just a list of every type of recipe you can make for lunch and dinner. I'll think about the logistics of it and get back to you on that.
Okay back to this Turkey Quinoa Burger with Hemp Heart Tzatziki. I actually thought to make this again because my friend sent me this amazing recipe for the tzatziki. She knows I am a Manitoba Hemp Heart lover, so finding new ways to incorporate them into my diet is the best. Why do I love Manitoba Hemp Hearts? 1) They are local to my hometown!, 2) they provide plant-based protein, 3) there are 10 grams of protein per 30 gram serving, 4) they are high in GOOD fat, and 5) they provide both omega 3 and omega 6's! I recommend always having them on hand - if only to make this amazing tzatziki! For 15% off of your entire order use promo code HempAmbassador at checkout.
I can't take credit for this tzatziki (although I would LOVE to), as it is the brain child of Megan over at Carrots & Flowers (go check her out!). It is seriously SO creamy, AND it's dairy, nut and oil-free!! I am currently brainstorming a list of acceptable items to put it on. Probably chicken, in salads, with tuna and probably by the spoon for Everly. This perfectly creamy tzatziki sauce pairs so well with the juicy and flavor-packed turkey quinoa burgers atop a bed of spinach and veggies.
This meal is high in protein thanks to the hemp hearts and turkey, does not weigh you down thanks to the base of fresh veggies and keeps you full for a long time thanks to the quinoa. It is also gluten and grain-free and can easily be made dairy-free! It comes together so quickly and is a great weeknight meal for the family. I love making extra turkey burgers and keeping them in the fridge to throw on a salad the next day or to cut up for Everly's lunch. This meal is mom, dad, daughter and husband approved - so it's sure to be a crowd pleaser for everyone in your family! Check out how I did this super easy dinner below.
Turkey Quinoa Burgers w/ Hemp Heart Tzatziki
Makes: 6 large burgers
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Ingredients:
1 cup Manitoba Hemp Hearts
2-3 cloves garlic, minced (I used 3)
juice of two lemons
2 tbs tahini
2-3 persian cucumbers or 1 large (I used 3 mini cucumbers, skin on)
1 tbs chopped fresh mint
1 tbs chopped fresh parsley (I used 1 tsp dried parsley)
1 tbs chopped fresh dill
4 tbs water
salt & pepper to taste
Turkey Quinoa Burgers
1 lb ground turkey
1 cup quinoa, cooked
1/4 cup feta cheese (omit for dairy-free)
2 tbs fresh mint, chopped
3 tbs red onion, chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
dash of worcestire sauce
pinch of red pepper flakes
salt & pepper to taste
For Serving:
Spinach
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Red Bell Pepper
Feta Cheese
Any other vegetable you like!
Instructions:
Cook the quinoa by following package instructions.
While the quinoa cooks, add all of the tzatziki ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth. Add more water if it's too thick. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Add all of the remaining turkey burger ingredients to a bowl. Once the quinoa is cooked and cooled add it to the bowl as well.
Place the turkey burger mixture into the fridge for 5-10 minutes so it's easier to handle.
While that is cooling you can prepare your plate with spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes and any other veggies you want.
Form the mixture into 6 patties and heat a skillet or frying pan on the stove over medium heat. Add a little bit of olive oil to the pan and place as many turkey burgers on as you can without them touching.
Cook the turkey burgers ~4 minutes on each side. Just make sure not to burn them and that they have cooked all the way through before taking them off!
Once the burgers are cooked through place them on top of your veggies and top with a dollop of tzatziki sauce!
Best,
Stacey