At Sprouts, we love trying different types of food. That’s why we were thrilled to have Jake Smollett “The Home Chef’” over to one of our Los Angeles locations to prepare a meal for shoppers featuring his signature California and New Orleans-Creole style. Jake made his favorite loaded Turkey Burger Sliders and BlaVaMato Salad. Wondering what a BlaVaMato Salad is? Well, it’s pretty simple… it gets its name from its ingredients: black beans, avocado and cherry tomatoes. Check out these recipes:
Loaded Turkey Burgers Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Ground turkey
- 1 sm. Onion, chopped
- 2 Garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 Baby bella mushrooms, chopped
- 1 Jalapeño pepper, chopped
- 4 slices Thick-cut bacon
- 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ tsp. Sea salt
- ¼ tsp. Paprika
- ¼ cup Smoked Gouda
- Grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese for topping
- 12 Slider buns
Sriracha Mayo
- ¼ cup Mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp. Sriracha
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the ground turkey and set aside.
- In a large frying pan, fry up your bacon until it’s cooked thoroughly and slightly crispy. While the bacon is doing its thing, start chopping up the onions, garlic, mushrooms and jalapeño into small, diced pieces. Once the bacon is done, set it aside and let it drain on paper towel.
- Discard a little over half of the bacon grease and use the rest to sauté the veggies in. Once the onions, garlic, mushrooms and jalapeño are sautéed, chop the bacon in small pieces and add to the mixing bowl of ground turkey with the sautéed veggies, and stir into the raw ground turkey meat. Add the Worcestershire sauce, salt, paprika and grated smoked Gouda. Stir thoroughly.
- Begin forming the meat into small patties. The patties should be just about 3 inches in diameter to fit on the mini buns. Once you’ve made the patties prepare the Sriracha mayo by adding 2 tablespoons of Sriracha to 1/4 cup mayo and mix together. Set aside.
- In a large pan on medium-high heat, cook the burgers. You can definitely grill these bad boys up as well. Once the burgers are almost done, toast the Kaiser rolls in the pan. Place the Sriracha mayo on each side of the buns. Place a slice of smoked Gouda on top with fresh-grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese. Don’t be afraid to add more bacon on top too! So good!
BlaVaMato Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pint Assorted cherry tomatoes
- 1 can Black beans (no salt added)
- 1 Avocado, cubed
- 1 Tbsp. Red onion, chopped
- 1 handful cilantro, chopped
Dressing Recipe
- 2 1/2 Tbsp. Avocado oil
- 1 Lime
- 1 tsp. Country Dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp. Salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the salad ingredients.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients for the dressing.
- Drizzle dressing over the salad, toss lightly.
- Serve and enjoy!
About Jake Smollett
Jake stars in the Food Network show Smollett Eats. The series follows Jake and his five siblings Jocqui, Jojo, Jussie, Jazz and Jurnee as they use their culinary skills to navigate exciting cooking and entertaining challenges. From organizing the menu for their niece’s second birthday party to throwing a midnight BBQ with friends, the siblings meet each task with joy, laughter and a little playful competition.
Smollett’s interest in cooking began at an early age as he watched his mother make health-conscious yet delectable recipes. While growing up his mother refused to let the family eat fast food due to their lack of fresh ingredients and wholesome options. Jake became mom’s number one sous chef. At age 15 he transformed his passion of the culinary arts into a successful business by teaming up with his sister Jurnee to create “Mommy’s Baked Goods” where the two of them produced and distributed their all-natural pies, candies and cookies in local Southern California grocery stores. In 2008, the siblings both landed jobs on new television series’ and made the tough decision to dissolve the business due to lack of manpower.
While continuing to act, Jake never stopped honing his culinary craft. The initial taste of success from “Mommy’s Baked Goods” prompted him to combine his talent as an entertainer with his love for cuisine. Smollett prefers to think of himself as “The Home Chef,” focusing on elevating home cooked meals. His natural appreciation in the art of combining spices, natural herbs, and gourmet ingredients contributes to his own signature technique of Creole-infused fare, blending his California style with his family’s New Orleans roots.
More recently, Jake produced several cooking shows for regional television. Smollett also started his own blog to share an array of his recently crafted creations and staple entrees. JakeSmollett.com produces new recipes weekly, which include photos and step-by-step instructions on how to recreate his eclectic plates.” Jake wants to give his readers an ever-evolving tool, reiterating his belief that anyone can experience luxury cooking in the comfort of their own home.
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