Start by pouring a bit of olive oil into a large sauté pan. Toss in the finely chopped large onion and sprinkle a pinch of salt over it. Let the pan cozy up to medium heat. Cook those onions until they get soft and release that irresistible aroma. It should take around 7 to 8 minutes. Now, add the minced garlic and let it sizzle for an extra 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the fragrant mixture cool down.

Grab a roomy mixing bowl and throw in the ground turkey, water chestnuts (make sure they’re drained!), soy sauce, finely chopped cilantro, freshly grated ginger, and the optional but highly recommended sambal oelek. Don’t forget to add the cooled down onion and garlic mix. To keep things moist and juicy, toss in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water. Now, dive in with your hands and mix everything until it’s one harmonious blend.

Shape a little bit of the mixture into a small patty – a tester, if you will. Cook it up and give it a taste. If the seasoning needs a tweak, sprinkle in a bit more soy sauce or a dash of salt. Once you’re confident it’s flavor perfection, form the mix into four equally sized patties.

Take a moment to wipe down the sauté pan you used for the onions with a paper towel. Drizzle it with fresh olive oil and let it dance its way to medium-high heat. Place those burger patties in the pan, making sure not to overcrowd. Cook them for about 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Look for that beautiful golden brown exterior and make sure they’re cooked through. If you’re working in batches, keep the first batch warm in the oven at a cozy 200 degrees F while the others sizzle away.

Mix together the mayonnaise and sambal oelek in a small bowl – that’s your spicy mayo magic. Toast those burger buns to perfection. Now, assemble the masterpieces: place the burgers on the buns and let your creativity run wild with toppings. Add a slice of American or Cheddar cheese, a leaf of butter lettuce, a juicy slice of beefsteak tomato, and a ring of red onion. Finally, crown it all with a generous dollop of tantalizing spicy mayo.