Description
Savory zucchini corn burgers blend garden-fresh ingredients with hearty southwestern flavors. Light patties pair perfectly with crisp summer salads, offering a delightful meal you can enjoy outdoors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (454 g) ground chicken
- 1 ear fresh corn, kernels removed
- 1 medium zucchini, grated
- ½ cup (60 g) breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsps fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 green onions, finely sliced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 pint (473 ml) cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered
- ⅓ medium seedless English cucumber, finely diced
- ¼ cup (15 g) fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 tbsps fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Sauce Preparation: Whisk sauce ingredients in a compact vessel, refrigerate to allow flavor fusion and enhancement.
- Oven Calibration: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) for precise cooking environment.
- Patty Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly blend ground chicken, zucchini, corn kernels, herbs, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Patty Formation and Searing: Shape mixture into uniform 3.5-4 inch patties, then sear in olive oil-heated skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes per side to create caramelized exterior.
- Oven Finishing: Transfer seared patties to parchment-lined baking sheet, roast in preheated oven for 7-10 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Relish Creation: Combine diced tomatoes, cilantro, red onion, lime juice, and salt to create vibrant accompaniment, gently mixing to preserve ingredient texture.
- Serving: Warm tortillas or pita bread, place cooked chicken burgers inside, top with fresh relish, and serve alongside herbed rice, roasted potatoes, or light pasta salad.
Notes
- Moisture Management: Grate zucchini and gently squeeze out excess liquid to prevent soggy burger texture and ensure crisp, well-formed patties.
- Temperature Precision: Use instant-read meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches safe 165°F internal temperature, preventing undercooking.
- Binding Technique: Lightly mix ingredients to avoid dense, tough burgers; handle mixture gently to maintain light, tender protein structure.
- Flavor Enhancement: Allow sauce to chill for minimum 30 minutes before serving to develop deeper, more complex taste profiles.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg