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• Using Turkey in High-Speed Hamburgers

  Can I substitute turkey mince for beef mince in Nigella's High Speed Burgers (Nigella Express, p145)?

  Posted by Cheryl Lim. Answered on 14th Aug 2011 at 12.00

  From the nigella team:

  It is possible to substitute minced (ground) turkey in Nigella's High-Speed Hamburgers but you need to bear in mind a couple of points. First, the beef burgers in the recipe are cooked to medium-rare, but if using turkey they will need to be thoroughly cooked as undercooked turkey carries a risk of salmonella poisoning. The cooking time will need to be increased to something closer to 4-5 minutes per side, and you should check that they are thoroughly cooked through before serving.

  Second, the burgers use minced beef with approximately 5% fat content. As the turkey burgers need longer cooking they will need a little extra fat to help keep them moist. Minced turkey thigh has a fat content of around 6% so would be a good option, or a mixture of thigh and breast. Minced turkey breast has a fat content of less than 2% so is likely to yield a drier burger.

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