w/ Jamaican Grilled Pineapple & Glazed Plantains

Serves about 12

With the summer BBQ season upon us, and everyone itching for one of your famous burgers from your BBQ, you’re sure to be raising the bar when it comes to grilling my Jamaican spiced turkey burgers.  Serve these on your favorite roll with some frosty beverages.

Ingredients:

5 Lbs               Ground Turkey meat

¼ Cup              Jerk Seasoning Mix from your grocery store

6 oz                 Rum

1                      Whole Pineapple

4                      Ripe Plantains

16 oz               Your favorite BBQ Sauce.

(When I cannot use my own homemade sauce, I prefer Sweet Baby Rays…)

Prep:

Combine turkey, jerk seasoning, and dark rum in large bowl - mix thoroughly

Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours - even better if you can refrigerate overnight

Form into 10 to 12 seven ounce round patties and refrigerate until ready to grill

Wash, peel, core, and slice pineapple into about 12 even circles

Lightly coat with olive oil and set aside until ready to grill

Wash plantains (leave peel on) and slice in half lengthwise

 Lightly oil flesh side of the plantain and set aside until ready to grill

Homemade Dry Jerk Dust (DJD) Seasoning

Prep:

Mix ingredients in bowl set aside until ready to grill – store unused DJD in airtight container

Now you’re ready to grill…

Preheat your grill - whether it’s gas or charcoal, just make sure it’s hot. I always like to soak some flavored wood chips and add those to my fire right before grilling.  Clean your grill with a grill brush.  Wipe grates with a towel and then lightly oil.

Lightly oil turkey patties and then dust on both sides with a small about of DJD.  Grill over medium heat for 5-7 minutes per side, depending on thickness of the patties and temperature of the grill.

At the same time you can grill the pineapple and plantains.  Grill the pineapple over medium heat for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until lightly charred.  Grill the plantains over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes, flesh side down. Once the plantains are golden brown, peel back the skin and brush with your bbq sauce. Continue grilling on both sides.  Try to get a nice glaze and caramelization of the sugars on the plantain, by applying thin layers of sauce frequently - closing the lid on the grill will help achieve this…

Serve by assembling the turkey burgers on your favorite roll.  Top it with grilled pineapple slices and some BBQ sauce.  Serve the plantains as a side dish and ENJOY…

Chris P. Olson, Executive Chef

IW Club