Turkey Parmesan Sliders

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground turkey (for the best flavor, try to buy the white/dark mix vs the all-white meat)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup onions, minced fine
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced fine
• Pinch red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped fine
• 1/4 cup pine nuts ground *see notes below
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt *see notes below
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
• Vegetable oil for frying
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups any tomato sauce heated, or see here
• 12 slices provolone cheese
• 12 slider rolls

Instructions

1. 1

   Place the ground turkey in a large bowl.

2. 2

   In a medium sauté pan, heat oil over medium heat.

3. 3

   Add onion, garlic and red pepper flakes and cook over medium heat until the onions are tender, 4-5 minutes. Cool.

4. 4

   Add the ½ cup of Parmesan cheese, parsley, ground pine nuts, salt, pepper and mascarpone cheese to the turkey.

5. 5

   Add the cooled onion mixture and stir with a wooden spoon to combine.

6. 6

   Form 12 equal patties, about 3 ½ ounces each and lay out on a plastic or parchment covered sheet tray and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. I used an ice cream scoop.

7. 7

   Lay out three bowls. In the first place the flour, in the second beat the eggs with the milk and in the third place the bread crumbs.

8. 8

   Dip each patty in the flour, then egg mixture then bread crumbs, shaking off excess during each breading.

9. 9

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

10. 10

    Place a cast iron skillet or other pan that can withstand a high heat and fill half full with vegetable oil.

11. 11

    Bring the temperature of the oil to 350 degrees F (use a deep fry thermometer) and maintain that temperature).

12. 12

    Once the oil is hot, fry four patties at a time, and cook until each side is golden brown. You are not cooking them though, just getting a nice brown crust, about 4-5 minutes total per batch. As each are browned, move to a sheet tray.

13. 13

    Once all are fried, place the sheet tray into the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until a probe inserted into the center of one patty reads 150 degrees F.

14. 14

    Remove pan and sprinkle each with Parmesan cheese, a spoonful of tomato sauce and a slice of provolone cheese. (I had to fold the slices to fit evenly over the patty with a little overhang).

15. 15

    Bake for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese melts.

16. 16

    Place one patty onto each slider roll and serve.