Chicken burger with Gouda cheese and marinated apples

Portions:

Preparation:

20 minutes (marinade: 30 minutes)

Cooking:

12 minutes

Craving a burger that's out of the ordinary? This chicken burger with Gouda cheese and marinated apples puts a fresh and delicious spin on the classic. The juicy chicken, melted Gouda, and crunchy Quebec apples create a perfect balance of sweetness, flavor, and texture. Ideal for a friendly dinner, an impromptu BBQ, or simply to shake up your weeknight meal routine.

Ingredients

For the pickled apples:

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

1 tbsp. salt

1/2 teaspoon marinade spices

2 Cortland apples, sliced with a mandolin

For the galettes:

1 lb. ground chicken or turkey

1 French shallot, finely chopped

1/3 cup quick oats

1 beaten egg

1 tbsp Cajun seasoning

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 tsp. maple syrup

1 teaspoon salt

Ground pepper

For the toppings :

4 toasted burger buns

4 slices of smoked Gouda cheese

2 cups of arugula

Spicy mayonnaise

Preparation

For the pickled apples:

In a small saucepan, combine the apple cider vinegar, water, honey, salt, and spices. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
Pour the hot brine into a clean 17.5-ounce jar and let cool in the refrigerator. Once cooled, submerge the apple slices in the brine so that they are completely covered.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. The apple slices will keep for up to 1 week.

For the galettes:

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well until smooth.
With lightly oiled hands, shape into 4 patties.
In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat a little butter or oil and cook the chicken patties for about 4 minutes on each side. Pour 3 tablespoons of water into the skillet and cover to finish cooking the meat in the steam.
Turn off the heat. Lift the lid (being careful of any steam that may escape) and top the patties with slices of cheese. Close the lid and let the cheese melt with the residual heat.
Assemble the burgers. Spread mayonnaise on the buns, add the patty, arugula, and a few slices of marinated apples. Close the burger and enjoy.

Tips and tricks

Choose a firm, slightly tart apple, such as Cortland, Gala, orEmpire. These will remain crunchy after marinating and add a nice freshness to the burger.
Prepare the marinated apples in advance, but add them to the burger at the last minute.
Choose a mild or smoked Gouda, depending on your taste. Melt it directly onto the hot galette for an ultra-indulgent treat.
Avoid overcooking the chicken so that it remains tender and juicy. A thermometer or gentle, even cooking makes all the difference.