There’s nothing like the aroma of a burger cooked over the searing heat of a grill. Whether cooking at home or strolling a street festival, the smell conjures hunger like no other summer food.

Indulgent? Yes, especially when eaten on bread and accompanied by rich toppings and a pile of fries. To alleviate some guilt (we’re trying to pare down for our son’s fall wedding), we’re opting to satisfy cravings with flavor-packed turkey burgers enjoyed without buns. Think of this option like a slab of great meatloaf with the flavors of the grill. We’ll serve them with sliced ripe tomatoes, farmer’s market salad greens and a few oven-roasted potatoes.

Ground turkey contains less saturated fat than ground beef and fewer calories, even if you opt for ground turkey with some added thigh meat rather than straight turkey breast. The lack of fat means the burgers can be dry; adding an egg yolk, a small amount of cheese and some flavorful ingredients helps keep the burgers moist.

I look for organic ground turkey that is 93% lean and 7% fat for the best flavor. One and a half pounds of turkey, with add-ins, makes four nicely sized burgers. I add a little bit of panko crumbs to hold the shape while grilling. Gluten-free crumbs work just fine.

Cook the burgers directly over the heat of the grill. To prevent sticking, make sure the grill grates are hot. Then spray the burgers with vegetable oil and set them on the heated grill grates oiled-side down. Cover the grill and resist the temptation to flip the burgers before the first side is nicely seared. Spray the burgers again before you flip to cook the second side. If the cooking is going too quickly, cook the second side of the burgers away from the direct heat. Never press down on the burgers with a spatula while they cook; that causes juices to release. To check for doneness, gently press the center of the burger with your fingertip; it should feel nearly firm.

FYI, both of the burger recipes that follow taste great when made with ground beef or bison. Reduce cooking time by 2 or 3 minutes for medium-rare beef burgers. The center of beef or bison burgers will feel slightly soft when pressed with a fingertip.

Of course, you can always serve the burgers on buns! No judgment here.

Turkey Burgers with Smoked Gouda and Green onions

Makes 4 burgers

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey

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