Recipe: Turkey Breakfast Patties (using zucchini)

TURKEY BREAKFAST PATTIES

"All through college, I had a love affair with sausage-egg-and-cheese bagel sandwiches. I just couldn't stop myself from getting them at all hours - especially since my favorite drive-through coffee shop served them twenty-four hours a day. Naturally, one part of beginning to lose weight was breaking this habit and finding new ways to enjoy this favorite more moderately-especially without adding a doughnut on the side. These spiced turkey patties scratch the itch for traditional pork sausage for a fraction of the calories."



"To prevent the patties from drying out (since the turkey is so lean), I added grated zucchini."

1 pound ground turkey breast
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
2 scallions, white and light-green parts, finely chopped
1/2 cup grated zucchini
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground sage
3/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Pinch of allspice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided use

In a large bowl, combine the turkey, maple syrup, scallions, zucchini, garlic, sage, fennel, thyme, allspice, salt, and pepper. Using your hands, shape the mixture into 8 patties.

In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of the oil over medium-high heat. Add 4 of the patties and cook until golden brown and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for 3 to 4 more minutes. Transfer the patties to a warm plate. Repeat with the remaining 4 patties.

Makes 8 patties, 4 servings

PER SERVING: Calories 172, Protein 24g, Carbohydrates 5g, Fiber 1g, Total Fat 6g, Saturated Fat 1g, Sodium 502mg

Used by permission to Recipelink.com from Clarkson Potter
Adapted from source: Eating in the Middle: a mostly wholesome cookbook by Andie Mitchell