Italian Meatball Burgers

These were delicious!!!

Italian Meatball Burgers

8 ounces sweet turkey Italian sausage (we used pork due to me being allergic to turkey)

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1 pound ground sirloin (we used 93-7 to make up for using reg sausage)

Cooking spray

2 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced

6 (2-ounce) Italian bread rolls, split

3/4 cup fat-free tomato-basil pasta sauce (such as Muir Glen)--this is found in the Organic Section

Prepare grill.

Remove casings from sausage. Combine sausage, oregano, basil, salt, fennel seeds, garlic powder, and ground sirloin. Divide beef mixture into 6 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty.

Place patties on a grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 5 minutes. Turn patties over; grill 2 minutes. Divide fresh mozzarella cheese evenly over patties, and grill an additional 5 minutes or until a thermometer registers 165°. Remove from grill; let stand 5 minutes.

Place rolls, cut sides down, on grill rack; grill 1 minute or until toasted. Place 1 patty on bottom half of each roll; top each serving with 2 tablespoons sauce and top half of roll.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 burger)

CALORIES 375 (33% from fat); FAT 13.9g (sat 5.3g,mono 4.4g,poly 1.7g); PROTEIN 28.1g; CHOLESTEROL 80mg; CALCIUM 130mg; SODIUM 894mg; FIBER 1.8g; IRON 4.5mg; CARBOHYDRATE 32.7g

Cooking Light, AUGUST 2007