Spicy Bird Recipe

Name: Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shops Spicy Bird Recipe
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 8 oz sliced roasted turkey breast; 4 slices pepper jack cheese; 3 tbsp pickled jalapeños; 4 tbsp baja sauce; 2 leaves leaf lettuce (romaine or green leaf); 4 slices tomato; 6 slices red onion; 4 slices dill pickle slices; 0.5 whole avocado; 0.25 tsp salt; 0.125 tsp freshly ground black pepper; 2 pieces sandwich buns or telera rolls; 1 tbsp unsalted butter (for toasting buns); 2 tbsp extra baja sauce (for serving)

Inspired by Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shop

Time20m

Serves2

Turkey Breast, Pepper Jack, Jalapenos, Baja Sauce + The Works

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Ingredients

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Sandwich

8 oz sliced roasted turkey breast

4 slices pepper jack cheese

3 tbsp pickled jalapeños

4 tbsp baja sauce

2 leaves leaf lettuce (romaine or green leaf)

4 slices tomato

6 slices red onion

4 slices dill pickle slices

1/2 whole Avocado

1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt

1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 pieces sandwich buns or telera rolls

Optional garnish / toasts

1 tbsp unsalted butter (for toasting buns)

2 tbsp extra baja sauce (for serving)

Method

Prep

Toast and prepare bread

Slice buns or rolls in half. Spread 1/2 tablespoon butter evenly on the cut face of each top and bottom half. Heat a skillet over medium heat and toast the buttered sides until golden brown and slightly crisp, about 1–2 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.

Season avocado

Slice the half avocado into thin slices. Lightly season with 1/8 teaspoon salt and a small pinch of black pepper. Set aside.

Warm turkey

If turkey is cold, warm it gently: place the sliced turkey breast in a microwave-safe dish covered with a damp paper towel and microwave for 25–35 seconds until warm but not dry. Alternatively, warm in a skillet over low heat for 1–2 minutes, turning once.

Assembly

Apply sauces

Spread 2 tablespoons of baja sauce evenly on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Spread the remaining 2 tablespoons on the inside of the top halves (or reserve extra for serving).

Layer warm turkey and cheese

Arrange half of the warmed turkey (about 4 oz) on each bottom bun. Top the turkey on each sandwich with 2 slices of pepper jack cheese, slightly overlapping. If you prefer melted cheese, return the open-faced sandwiches to the warm skillet for 30–60 seconds or place under a broiler for 20–30 seconds until the cheese softens.

Add spicy elements and veggies

Distribute pickled jalapeños evenly over the cheese (about 1 1/2 tbsp per sandwich). Add tomato slices (2 per sandwich), 3 slices of red onion per sandwich, dill pickle slices (2 per sandwich), and a lettuce leaf on top. Fan avocado slices over the lettuce.

Finish and serve

Sprinkle a light pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper over the tomato and avocado if desired. Close each sandwich with the top bun and press down gently. Serve immediately with extra baja sauce on the side.

Notes

Adjust pickled jalapeño quantity to taste for heat. For a smoky kick, substitute pepper jack with smoked pepper jack or add a dash of chipotle powder to the baja sauce. To make this dairy-free, omit cheese and use a vegan pepper jack alternative.