Don’t skip the yogurt sauce. It adds a great twist to these barbecued burgers!

Stuffed chicken burgers

Makes 4 burgers

Ingredients:

1 lb (450 g) extra-lean ground chicken
3 tbsp (45 mL) chopped flat leaf Italian parsley
2 tsp (10 mL) chopped fresh rosemary
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp (1 mL) fresh ground pepper
4 oz (125 g) Canadian jalapeno havarti cheese, diced

Method:

For the burgers, use your hands to combine chicken, parsley, rosemary, garlic and pepper in a large bowl. Shape into 8 patties. Equally divide cheese among half of the patties. Top with remaining patties and press gently to seal and enclose the cheese. Chill up to 4 hours, if desired.

Preheat barbecue on high. Place burgers on the grill, reduce heat to medium heat, close lid and grill, turning once until a food thermometer inserted sideways reads 170 F (75 C), about 14 minutes. Serve with approx. 1/4 cup (40 mL) yogurt cucumber sauce (recipe follows).

Yogurt cucumber sauce

Makes approximately 1 1/4 cups (310 mL)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup (185 mL) plain Balkan-style 1% MF yogurt
1/2 cup (125 mL) grated English cucumber, squeezed dry
2 garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp (15 mL) apple cider vinegar
Iodized salt to taste

Stir together yogurt, cucumber, garlic and vinegar in a small bowl. Add iodized salt to taste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Can be made up to 2 days in advance

Apple Slaw

Makes 4 cups (1 L)
One serving = 1 cup (250 mL)

Ingredients:

Dressing

2 tbsp (30 mL) apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp (30 mL) mayo
2 tsp (10 mL) pure maple syrup

Salad

1 large crispy tart apple, I used a Sweetango, sliced into matchsticks
2 cups (500 mL) finely grated savoy cabbage
1/2 cup (125 mL) finely sliced red onion

Method:

In a large bowl whisk together the dressing ingredients: vinegar, mayo and maple syrup.

Add the apple, cabbage and onion. Toss well and serve.

One serving = 1 burger (without bun) with 1/4 cup (60 mL) yogurt cucumber sauce

Per serving: 388 calories, 28.2 g total fat, 12.5 g saturated fat, 0.4 trans fat, 292 mg sodium, 4.3 g carbohydrate, 0.6 g fibre, 2.1 g sugars, 0 g added sugars, 29.2 g protein

Courtesy Emily Richards
Homegrown: Celebrating the Canadian foods we grow, make and produce (release date November 2015)