Lunch: Buffalo Chicken Burger

Recipe by Marge Perry A bit of blue cheese in each patty ups the chicken's savoriness without adding much fat or calories.

Ingredients

1/2 cup sliced carrots
1 pound ground white-meat chicken
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
1 celery stalk, roughly chopped
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup blue cheese, plus more for garnish (optional)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 cup hot sauce (such as Tabasco Buffalo Style)
Vegetable oil cooking spray
4 large kaiser rolls, split
Iceberg lettuce (optional)
Carrot and celery sticks (optional)
Light blue cheese dressing (optional)

Instructions

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine carrot slices with 2 tablespoons water; microwave on high, stirring every minute, until very tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and let cool; mash carrots. Add chicken, egg whites, celery, breadcrumbs and cheese; mix to combine. Form chicken mixture into four 3/4-inch-thick patties. In a second bowl, stir cornstarch into hot sauce until dissolved; set aside. Coat a grill rack or grill pan with cooking spray. Grill patties over medium-high heat for 6 minutes; flip and grill 4 minutes more. Brush patties with hot sauce mixture; grill until internal temperature reaches 165 °F, about 2 minutes. Place 1 burger on bottom of each roll. Garnish with cheese and lettuce, if desired. Top with other half of roll. Serve with carrot and celery sticks and blue cheese dressing for dipping, if desired.