Monday, June 27, 2011

Club Burger Sliders with Avocado-Ranch Dressing


Ingredients:

Olive oil or vegetable oil, for drizzling
6 slices center-cut bacon, chopped
2 pounds ground turkey or ground turkey breast
1 small onion
1 tablespoon hot sauce (eyeball it)
2 tablespoons poultry seasoning (a couple of generous palmfuls)
Salt and pepper
1 avocado
1 cup sour cream
Juice of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, grated or finely chopped
A small handful of fresh chives, finely chopped
A small handful of fresh dill, finely chopped
A small handful of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
16 slices good-quality white or whole wheat bread OR english muffins
Bibb or butter lettuce leaves, for serving
2 plum or vine-ripened tomatoes, thinly sliced

Directions:

Preheat an outdoor grill or griddle pan to medium high. Place a skillet over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of oil and the bacon to the pan and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels to cool, then chop.

While the bacon cooks, place the turkey in a large bowl. Grate the onion on top of the turkey to get 3 to 4 tablespoons onion juice. Add the hot sauce, poultry seasoning, salt and lots of pepper. Add the cooked bacon, mix and form 8 slider patties, about 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide. Drizzle with oil to coat lightly. Cook on the grill or griddle, turning once, until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.

While the sliders cook, preheat the broiler. Place the avocado in a food processor. Add the sour cream, lemon juice, garlic, chives, dill and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Process into a smooth, thick sauce.

Using a 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut out rounds of bread (or trim 1 inch of crust all the way around the bread slices to form small squares); discard the crusts. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet and toast under the broiler. Serve the bacon-turkey sliders with the lettuce, tomatoes and avocado-ranch sauce between the toasts.