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4 from 1 vote

Turkey Burgers With Tzatziki Sauce USDA Recipe for Child Care Centers

Minted cucumber sauce known as Tzatziki transforms boring burgers into a flavorful exploration of Greek cuisine.
CACFP CREDITING INFORMATION
¹⁄2 pita provides 1¹⁄2 oz equivalent meat/meat alternate, ¹⁄4 cup vegetable, and 1¹⁄4 oz equivalent grains.
SOURCE
Team Nutrition CACFP Multicultural Recipe Project.
https://teamnutrition.usda.gov
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: Child Care Centers, CACFP
Age Group: Ages 3-5
Serving Size: 25-50
Program Type: CACFP
Program Meal Type: Lunch, Supper
Conventional Meal Category: Sandwich/Wrap, Main Dish (Entrée), Whole Grain-Rich
Program Meal Component: Grains, Meats, Vegetables, Whole Grain-Rich
Vegetable Subgroup: Red-Orange Vegetables, Dark Green Vegetable
Meal Service Temperature: Hot
Cooking Method: Bake
Season: Summer
25 Servings
Calories: 198

Ingredients

25 Servings

    Weight

    • 8 oz Yogurt, greek, plain, non-fat
    • 8 oz *Cucumber, fresh, peeled, chopped
    • - - Mint leaves, fresh, chopped
    • - - Juice, lemon, fresh squeezed, seeds removed
    • - - OR
    • - - Lemon juice bottled
    • 2 lb 7 oz Spinach, frozen, chopped
    • 3 lb 3 oz Turkey, ground, fresh or frozen (at least 93% lean)
    • - - Oregano, dried
    • - - Garlic powder
    • - - Salt, table
    • - - Black pepper, ground
    • - - Nonstick cooking spry
    • - - *Tomato, fresh, ¹⁄8" slices
    • 10 oz Pita, whole wheat (at least 70 gm each)

    Measure

    • 1 cup Yogurt, greek, plain, non-fat
    • 1 cup *Cucumber, fresh, peeled, chopped
    • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Mint leaves, fresh, chopped
    • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Juice, lemon, fresh squeezed, seeds removed
    • - - OR
    • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Lemon juice bottled
    • 1 qt 1¼ cups Spinach, frozen, chopped
    • - - Turkey, ground, fresh or frozen (at least 93% lean)
    • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Oregano, dried
    • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Garlic powder
    • 2 tsp Salt, table
    • 2 tsp Black pepper, ground
    • 1 spray Nonstick cooking spray
    • 25 slices *Tomato, fresh, ¹⁄8" slices
    • 12½ each Pita, whole wheat (at least 70 gm each)

    50 Servings

      Weight

      • 1 lb Yogurt, greek, plain, non-fat
      • 1 lb *Cucumber, fresh, peeled, chopped
      • - - Mint leaves, fresh, chopped
      • - - Juice, lemon, fresh squeezed, seeds removed
      • - - OR
      • - - Lemon juice bottled
      • 4 lb 14 oz Spinach, frozen, chopped
      • 6 lb 6 oz Turkey, ground, fresh or frozen (at least 93% lean)
      • - - Oregano, dried
      • - - Garlic powder
      • - - Salt, table
      • - - Black pepper, ground
      • - - Nonstick cooking spray
      • - - *Tomato, fresh, ¹⁄8" slices
      • 1 lb 4 oz Pita, whole wheat (at least 70 gm each)

      Measure

      • 2 cups Yogurt, greek, plain, non-fat
      • 2 cups *Cucumber, fresh, peeled, chopped
      • ⅓ cup Mint leaves, fresh, chopped
      • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Juice, lemon, fresh squeezed, seeds removed
      • - - OR
      • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Lemon juice bottled
      • 2 qt 2½ cups Spinach, frozen, chopped
      • - - Turkey, ground, fresh or frozen (at least 93% lean)
      • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Oregano, dried
      • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Garlic powder
      • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Salt, table
      • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Black pepper, ground
      • 2 sprays Nonstick cooking spray
      • 50 slices *Tomato, fresh, ¹⁄8" slices
      • 25 each Pita, whole wheat (at least 70 gm each)

      -

      25 Servings

        Weight

        • 8 oz Yogurt, greek, plain, non-fat
        • 8 oz *Cucumber, fresh, peeled, chopped
        • - - Mint leaves, fresh, chopped
        • - - Juice, lemon, fresh squeezed, seeds removed
        • - - OR
        • - - Lemon juice bottled
        • 2 lb 7 oz Spinach, frozen, chopped
        • 3 lb 3 oz Turkey, ground, fresh or frozen (at least 93% lean)
        • - - Oregano, dried
        • - - Garlic powder
        • - - Salt, table
        • - - Black pepper, ground
        • - - Nonstick cooking spry
        • - - *Tomato, fresh, ¹⁄8" slices
        • 10 oz Pita, whole wheat (at least 70 gm each)

        Measure

        • 1 cup Yogurt, greek, plain, non-fat
        • 1 cup *Cucumber, fresh, peeled, chopped
        • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Mint leaves, fresh, chopped
        • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Juice, lemon, fresh squeezed, seeds removed
        • - - OR
        • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Lemon juice bottled
        • 1 qt 1¼ cups Spinach, frozen, chopped
        • - - Turkey, ground, fresh or frozen (at least 93% lean)
        • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Oregano, dried
        • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Garlic powder
        • 2 tsp Salt, table
        • 2 tsp Black pepper, ground
        • 1 spray Nonstick cooking spray
        • 25 slices *Tomato, fresh, ¹⁄8" slices
        • 12½ each Pita, whole wheat (at least 70 gm each)

        50 Servings

          Weight

          • 1 lb Yogurt, greek, plain, non-fat
          • 1 lb *Cucumber, fresh, peeled, chopped
          • - - Mint leaves, fresh, chopped
          • - - Juice, lemon, fresh squeezed, seeds removed
          • - - OR
          • - - Lemon juice bottled
          • 4 lb 14 oz Spinach, frozen, chopped
          • 6 lb 6 oz Turkey, ground, fresh or frozen (at least 93% lean)
          • - - Oregano, dried
          • - - Garlic powder
          • - - Salt, table
          • - - Black pepper, ground
          • - - Nonstick cooking spray
          • - - *Tomato, fresh, ¹⁄8" slices
          • 1 lb 4 oz Pita, whole wheat (at least 70 gm each)

          Measure

          • 2 cups Yogurt, greek, plain, non-fat
          • 2 cups *Cucumber, fresh, peeled, chopped
          • ⅓ cup Mint leaves, fresh, chopped
          • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Juice, lemon, fresh squeezed, seeds removed
          • - - OR
          • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Lemon juice bottled
          • 2 qt 2½ cups Spinach, frozen, chopped
          • - - Turkey, ground, fresh or frozen (at least 93% lean)
          • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Oregano, dried
          • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Garlic powder
          • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Salt, table
          • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Black pepper, ground
          • 2 sprays Nonstick cooking spray
          • 50 slices *Tomato, fresh, ¹⁄8" slices
          • 25 each Pita, whole wheat (at least 70 gm each)

          Instructions

          • Preheat oven to 400 °F.
          • Prepare Tzatziki Sauce: In a medium bowl, mix ¹⁄2 of yogurt, cucumber, mint leaves, and lemon juice. Chill sauce. Use for step 8.
            For 25 servings: makes 1¹⁄2 cups 1 Tbsp.
            For 50 servings: makes 3 cups 2 Tbsp.
            Critical Control Point: Hold at 40°F or lower.
          • Thaw, drain, and squeeze excess liquid from spinach. Yields:
            For 25 servings, about 2 cups.
            For 50 servings, about 4 cups.
          • Prepare burgers: In a medium bowl, mix spinach, ground turkey, remaining yogurt, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
          • Shape into 3 oz rectangle patties to fit into pita pockets, about ¹⁄4” thick.
          • Line sheet pan(s) (18" x26" x 1") with parchment paper lightly coated with nonstick cooking spray. Place burger on sheet pan(s).
            For 25 servings, use 1 sheet pan.
            For 50 servings, use 2 sheet pans.
          • Bake for 20 minutes.
            Critical Control Point: Heat to 165 °F or higher for at least 15 seconds.
          • Cut Pita in half.
          • Place a turkey burger and a tomato into each half.
          • Top each burger with 1 tablespoon Tzatziki sauce.
          • Serve ¹⁄2 pita.
            Critical Control Point: Hold for hot service 140 °F or higher.

          Notes

          *See Marketing Guide for purchasing information on foods that will change during preparation or when a variation of the ingredients is available.
          Variation
          If ground turkey is frozen, defrost in the refrigerator for 1 day per 1–5 pounds. Store raw ground turkey at 40 °F.
          Tzatziki Sauce can also be served on the side.

          Nutrition

          Serving: 0½ pita | Calories: 198 | Total Carbohydrate: 22g | Protein: 17g | Total Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 436mg | Dietary Fiber: 3g | Total Sugars: 2g | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2mg