Here’s a burger with an Italian touch. Tender, ground white meat chicken patties are generously topped with fragrant, rich pesto sauce, and nestled between slices of rustic Italian Ciabatta bread. The traditional pesto is made with a blend of fresh basil, aromatic garlic, toasted pine nuts, premium olive oil, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. This vibrant sauce is readily available in jars at your local supermarket.
The Ciabatta bread, hailing from the Veneto region in Italy, boasts a light, airy texture with large, soft air pockets, perfectly complementing the burger with its delicate crunch. It’s easily found at most grocery stores. For a quick and refreshing side, pair your burger with a simple coleslaw made from ready-to-eat fresh coleslaw mix available in the produce section.
Helpful Hints:
Be sure to look for ground white meat chicken breast.
Any type of thick bread can be used instead of ciabatta bread.
Once the burger is in the skillet, do not move it for 4 minutes to allow it to form a crust.
Countdown:
Prepare ingredients.
Saute burger.
While burger sautes, make coleslaw.
Shopping List:
To buy: 3/4 pound ground chicken breast, 1 small container pesto sauce, 1 package ciabatta bread (4 slices needed), 1 can olive oil spray, 1 medium tomato, 1 small head lettuce, 1 bag washed, ready-to-eat coleslaw mix.
Pesto Chicken Burger
Serves 2- 3/4 ground chicken breast
- 4 tablespoons prepared pesto sauce, divided use
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 4 slices ciabatta
- Olive oil spray
- 1 medium sliced tomato
- 2 lettuce leaves
Meanwhile, spray cut sides of ciabatta with olive oil spray and toast in a toaster oven or under the broiler. Place cooked chicken burgers on cut side of 2 breads. Spoon remaining 2 tablespoons pesto sauce on top of each burger. Place 1 tomato slice on top of pesto sauce. Cover the tomato with lettuce leaves. Close with top of roll and serve.
Quick Coleslaw
Serves 2- 2 cups washed, ready-to-eat coleslaw mix
- 1/4 cup reduced fat salad dressing
Per serving: 41 calories (44 percent from fat), 2.0 g fat (0.2 g saturated, 0.7 g monounsaturated), 2 mg cholesterol, 1.0 g protein, 5.4 g carbohydrates, 1.8 g fiber, 22 mg sodium.
