Zinger Burger CopyCat

Growing up, we didn't have much fast food. The only kind of fast food we really ate was pizza OR when we went to Pakistan for the summers. I know crazy! Right?!

For your average South Asian kid, this was normal. Due to religious rulings on meat slaughtering, it was very rare for us to eat chicken or meat out. I guess in one sense it was great. Kept us away from the greasy food and gave mom the chance to get in the kitchen and make us authentic homemade, non-greasy fast food.

One fond childhood memory was always summers spent with cousins at my grandmas home in Pakistan, and eating the KFC rave...Zinger Burger! I still remember the summer KFC opened in Pakistan and all of us went nuts. For the first time we could eat crispy chicken from a restaurant that was halal and not made by mom (even though we knew moms was more flavorful)!

So here I am today, years later, not in Pakistan but home in Florida. Where we still can't get KFC Zinger Burgers, but I can make a damn good one at home for my kids that I know is healthier and has real flavorful ingredients.

I start out with Pioneer Women's Chicken Strips. These chicken strips are a favorite amongst my boys. Instead of cutting the chicken breast into strips I cut them in filets so they are big enough to cover the buns. I flash freeze them like she explains in the recipe and then when I need to make them I either spray them liberally with oil and bake them on broil or fry them as she does.

While the chicken is cooking, I get going on the sauce.

Sauce Ingredients:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 tbsp plain yogurt

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 cup green onions (chopped fine)

1/4 cup hot chili paste

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl and set them aside.

Then I get going on assembly. Traditionally Zinger Burgers are made using sesame buns but I like a nice corn dusted kaiser bun. I spread a light coating of mayo and toast them until they are a light golden brown on the inside.

I then place a little bit of the Zinger Sauce on the bottom bun. Add a slice of Sharp Cheddar Cheese on top, followed by the crispy chicken.

Now all I do is add some big leaves of butter lettuce topped with more Zinger Sauce on the top bun and place on top.

The crispy chicken on the warm, toasted kaiser bun with butter lettuce and the garlic, tangy, spiced Zinger Sauce is just delicious.

Serve it along side some Cajun roasted potato fries and I'm sure you'll be making this a regular over the fast food!