2 Recipes in One: Hoisin Burgers and Korean-style Lettuce Cups

I've made this recipe twice now.  It's a hit each time.  The burgers are full of flavor.  Gingery and garlicky and yummilicious.  (Yes, it's a word.  My own special word.)  But the clincher is the "special" ketchup.  It's simply a mixture of hoisin sauce and ketchup.  However, when you combine those two ingredients, you suddenly get an out-of-this-world combination that you can't resist dipping anything in.  Veggies.  Fries.  Your fingers. 

So, let's talk about the star ingredient:  hoisin sauce.  Never heard of it?  That's OK.  Just look in the Asian section of your grocery store.  I guarantee it will be there.  It's basically an Asian barbecue sauce.  A little bit packs a savory yet sweet punch, so you don't need much.  Add it to your stir fry and you'll want to kiss my feet.  Seriously.  In the words of my son's favorite show, Yo Gabba Gabba:  "Try it.  You'll like it." 

I adapted this recipe from a Weight Watcher's cookbook called Now & Later.  I love the concept of cooking something once and eating it twice, in different ways.  Let's face it, I really enjoy cooking in large batches.  But having leftovers that are exactly the same all week gets BORING! These two recipes are anything but boring.  In fact, the burgers themselves are so good, you may have to discipline yourself to save a few to make the next recipe.  But trust me.  Do it.  Save a few.  Make the next recipe.  It's like going to P.F. Chang's and getting the lettuce wraps.  Without the tip. 

So here goes.  Two recipes in one post.  Let me know if you love them as much as my family did.  In fact, I think I might make them again this week.  Hmmmm. 

Hoisin Burgers Servings: 8 (4 to eat, a 4 for Lettuce Cups)
Serving size: 1 burger plus 1 TB sauce
Points per serving: 4

• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 teaspoons + 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 2 pounds 93% lean ground turkey
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped, peeled fresh ginger (I used fresh ginger in a tube that I found in the produce section of my grocery store.)
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped

1. Make the sauce first.  Mix the ketchup and 2 teaspoons of the hoisin sauce together in a bowl.  Set aside, and TRY not to stick your finger in it to taste all the yummy deliciousness.  Seriously, that hoisin ketchup is ADDICTING!
2. In a separate bowl, mix the burger ingredients (3 tablespoons hoisin, turkey, cilantro, ginger, green onions, and garlic) together until combined.  Don't overwork the meat or the burgers will be tough.  
3. Form the meat into 8 patties.  
4. Cook the burgers on the grill or in a pan on the stovetop.  
5. Set aside 4 burgers for the second recipe, if you can resist them.  Also set aside 4 tablespoons of the hoisin ketchup. If you never make it to the second recipe, no problem.  At least the burgers were delicious.
6. Use the remaining 4 burgers, topped with about a tablespoon of the delicious ketchup.
7. NOTE:  When I make burgers, I use 1 point buns by Sara Lee. 

Korean-style Lettuce Cups

Servings: 4

Serving Size: 2 lettuce leaves with 1 cup meat mixture

Points per serving: 5

• 4 leftover cooked Hoisin Burgers, chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup shredded carrots (I bought pre-shredded carrots in a bag and gave them an extra chop or two)
• 4 tablespoons hoisin ketchup
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or mint
• juice of 1 lime (plus extra limes for spritzing over individual servings)
• 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce (I used Sriracha, but any hot sauce will do)
• 8-12 Boston lettuce leaves, depending on size of leaves

1. In a microwave safe bowl, put chopped burgers and bell peppers.  Cover with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in it.  Microwave on High for about 3 minutes, or until heated.
2. Stir in green onions, carrots, hoisin ketchup, basil or mint, lime juice, and hot sauce.
3. Separate lettuce leaves.  Fill each leaf with approximately 1/2 cup of the turkey mixture.  My leaves were small, so I ended up using 3 per serving.
4. Spritz extra lime juice over individual servings.
5. Enjoy.