Take Out Fake Out: Bruschetta Burger

A couple of years ago I discovered the best burger ever: The Bruschetta Burger at Applebees, inspired by Tyler Florence. It was pure deliciousness; pesto, tomatoes with basil and mozzarella cheese atop a juicy, seasoned burger served on foccacia bread. Sounds yummy, right? Well, it is also greasy and full of fat. Those don't really fit into my diet as I'm trying to cut down on excess fats (along with white sugar, white flour and red meat).

Annnnnnd ever since I drug him against his will to see we saw Julie and Julia, C has been asking me to make some bruschetta. I thought of this meal and decided to a.) satisfy both of our cravings and b.) make my own lighter version.

Take Out Fake Out: Turkey Bruschetta BurgerTurkey Burgers
1 pound turkey
Worsheshire Sauce
Garlic Powder
Old Bay Seasoning

1. Divide turkey into 4 patties.
2. Season each one individually. I don’t really measure my seasonings; I just know how much we like.
3. Grill 3-4 minutes on each side or until the center is no longer pink.

Bruschetta4 whole wheat English muffins
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 tbsp basil leaves, chopped
2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Garlic Powder
Dash of salt and pepper
2 oz. Mozzarella cheese, cubed

1. Mix tomatoes, basil, cheese, vinegar, oil and spices together in a bowl.
2. Cover and chill to let the flavors marry. I let mine sit in there overnight.
3. Toast English muffins.
4. Top with tomato mixture. Garnish with additional basil leaves.

Zesty Pesto
¾ cup basil leaves
½ cup pine nuts
3 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp crushed red pepper
Dash of salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until desired texture is achieved.
*You can substitute other nuts for pine nuts. Sunflower seeds are a cheaper option but they provide their distinct flavor to the dish.

Assembly
Because I like all of the flavors in this meal so much I chose to eat them separately, instead of in one big sandwich. I served the turkey burger on a bed of mixed greens and topped with the zesty pesto and some extra mozzarella. Then I served the bruschetta as a side. Delicious!!!