Italian turkey burger dogs

You know how when you walk into the grocery store they have sale items right at the entrance so you compulsively grab everything before you even walk in the door? Well, I once fell for this trap with fresh baked apple pies at Wegmann's. It smelled like heaven. Bruno and I grabbed a pie without even thinking about it. Halfway through our shopping trip, we look at each other like, why are we buying this pie? We don't want this pie, do we? And we put it back :(

But anyway, since then, I always look at the special offers at the entrance and resist. The other day however, they had some hot Italian sausages on special. I got a sudden craving for a soft italian bun with this sausage, topped with sauteed onions and peppers. But I resisted. Instead, I bought ground turkey beef and decided I would attempt to make something similar at home.

Now, I don't even know how to begin to make a real sausage, so this is more like a long burger. It was very, very good, turkey meat is very soft and pillowy, so it went well with the soft bread and "hot dog" idea!

Italian turkey burger dogs
Servings: 4 hot dogs

4 Italian bread buns
1 lb ground lean turkey meat
1 serrano pepper, deveined and deseeded, minced
1/2 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp fresh parsley
1 tsp adobo (all purpose seasoning)
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp italian seasoning
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp unseasoned (or italian seasoned) bread crumbs
3 tbsp canola oil

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl (except for the bread buns). Split the mix into 4 equal portions. On a flat surface, work each portion into a sausage shape by rolling back and forth.

In a skillet, heat the oil to medium-high. Place the "sausages" in, cooking on each side for about 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the pan and place them on a paper towel lined plate to absorb some of the oil.

Now for the topping.

Red pepper and onion topping
Servings: 4

1/2 garlic clove, minced
1 large red pepper, deveined, deseeded and cut in strips
1/2 large onion, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
salt to taste

Heat a nonstick skillet to medium heat and add the oil. Add the peppers, onion and garlic and sautee until the soft and the onions turn golden, about 7 minutes.


To serve, heat the buns on a griddle or pan, and spread some mayo and mustard on them (optional). Add a "sausage" and top with the red peppers and onions. You could also add some ketchup or tabasco if you wish!

Dig in! There's half a pound of meaty goodness disguised under those gorgeous veggies, haha.

Bruno thinks:

8.3 / 10