Coconut Basil Chicken Burgers With Thai Peanut Pesto Recipes

COCONUT BASIL CHICKEN BURGERS WITH THAI PEANUT PESTO

Steps:

• Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.
• For the slaw: Whisk together the lime juice and sugar in a medium-sized bowl to dissolve the sugar. Add the pear and carrot and toss to coat. Cover and chill until serving time.
• For the pesto: Place all of the ingredients except the tomatoes in a small food processor; process briefly until the mixture forms a coarse paste. Transfer to a small bowl and gently stir in the tomatoes. Cover and set aside.
• For the patties: Combine the coconut milk, lime zest, and lime juice in a 10-inch fire-proof skillet. Place the skillet on the grill rack and bring the mixture to a simmer. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and reduced to 2/3 cup, about 15 minutes. Add the curry paste to the mixture and whisk until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl to cool.
• Place the chicken in a large mixing bowl. Add the cooled coconut milk mixture, basil, panko and salt. Using a large fork, mix the ingredients together gently but thoroughly. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form the portions into patties to fit the buns, making a slight indentation in the center of each patty.
• When the grill is ready, brush the grill rack with oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook for 4 minutes. Flip the patties, cover, and cook an additional 4 minutes, or until the juices run clear from the center of the patties when pierced. During the last few minutes of cooking, arrange the buns, cut side down, around the edges of the grill to toast lightly.
• To assemble the burgers: Distribute an equal amount of the slaw on the bottom buns. Top each with a patty and a dollop of the pesto. Add the bun tops and serve.

CONTEST-WINNING PEANUT CHICKEN STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine water, soy sauce, peanut butter, brown sugar, lemon juice, garlic and pepper flakes; set aside., In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken; stir-fry until no longer pink, 3-4 minutes. Remove from pan. , Stir-fry broccoli and carrot in remaining oil until crisp-tender, 4-6 minutes. Add soy sauce mixture; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until sauce is thickened, 1-2 minutes. Return chicken to pan; heat through. Drain noodles; toss with chicken mixture in pan. If desired, sprinkle with sesame seeds.

PESTO CHICKEN BURGERS

Steps:

• Toss the cut-up bun with 3 tablespoons water in a large bowl; set aside 1 minute. Add the chicken, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; mix with your hands until combined. Form into four 3/4-inch-thick patties. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the almonds and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Set aside 1 tablespoon almonds for the salad; transfer the rest to a blender along with the oil from the pan. Do not wipe out the skillet. Increase the heat under the skillet to medium high. Add the chicken patties and cook until no longer pink, 7 to 8 minutes per side. Meanwhile, add the whole tomato to the blender and process until smooth. Add the basil and 1/4 teaspoon salt; pulse until almost smooth. Add the parmesan; pulse until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the burgers on the buns; top each with a spoonful of pesto and a tomato slice. Toss the remaining pesto with the arugula, the reserved 1 tablespoon almonds and the lemon juice; serve with the burgers.