Richard Blais prepares turkey burgers with intense flavor and little fat

Blais is the first winner of "Top Chef All-Stars," a show that opened many doors for him, including the opportunity to co-host with Gordon Ramsay. He now presents "Next Level Chef" with Nyesha Arrington, also a former "Top Chef" contestant, aiming to give up-and-coming chefs the tools and techniques they need to shine. They also collaborate on a YouTube channel offering culinary tips and tricks.

In a recent episode, Blais faced off against Ramsay in a burger battle. Ramsay prepared his signature smash burgers, complete with a fried egg and melted cheese, while Blais opted for a lean turkey burger. Ramsay's beef patty contains 20% fat, while Blais's turkey patty has only 1%.

With so little fat, the turkey is more difficult to cook and the meat tends to shrink, so Blais prefers to make the burger wider than the bun. To compensate for the lack of flavor, he seasons the meat before cooking and chooses ingredients with an Asian flair: scallions, grapeseed oil, black pepper, kosher salt, fish sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger root, and butter.

The burger is served with a salad of red and Chinese cabbage, green apple, mayonnaise, sriracha, and lime. Ramsay says he enjoyed an "exceptional" turkey burger the last time he visited Blais's restaurant.

Blais also champions vinegar as a way to enhance dishes. A splash in pasta sauce adds a refreshing quality it wouldn't otherwise have, and he suggests flavored vinegars, like strawberry vinegar, instead of white or red wine for salads.

To make homemade meals healthier, Blais recommends substituting ingredients. When a recipe calls for milk, she suggests yogurt or coconut milk to reduce fat and calories. To reduce sugar, she prefers natural ingredients that compensate for the sweetness, and with less sugar, vanilla adds a more complex flavor to baked goods.

Blais's advice shows that simple, healthy and tasty foods are the basis of an exquisite meal.