Burgers have nearly endless appeal, as much for the big, meaty patty as for the many adornments that are piled on. And although almost all begin with ground beef, there’s no reason not to expand the concept to other meats.
In the search for other flavors, lamb is a prime candidate, its taste full and round and perfectly suited to an aggressive slate of toppings. Here we’ve included Greek seasonings and a relish to top the burgers.
As with all burgers, charcoal cooking is always the first choice. But pan- or griddle-cooking are fine alternatives.
Grilled Greek-style lamb burgers
Tomato-feta relish
Chickpeas with spiced pepper vinaigrette
Butter cookies
Beer or Greek wine
GRILLED GREEK-STYLE LAMB BURGERS
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 6 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
1 pound lean ground lamb
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus additional oil
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons minced fresh mint Salt, freshly ground pepper
4 sandwich rolls Tomato-feta relish, recipe follows
1. Combine lamb, 1 tablespoon of the oil, garlic, mint, and salt and pepper to taste in medium bowl. Mix lightly. Shape into 4 patties. Grill or broil patties until cooked as desired, 6-8 minutes.
2. About 1 minute before burgers are done, lightly brush cut sides of sandwich rolls with oil; grill until lightly toasted. Serve burgers topped with tomato-feta relish.
Nutrition information per serving:
Calories ………… 370 Fat ……….. 21 g Saturated fat …. 7 g
% calories from fat .. 51 Cholesterol .. 75 mg Sodium …….. 305 mg
Carbohydrates …… 22 g Protein ……. 23 g Fiber ………. 1.2 g
TOMATO-FETA RELISH
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Yield: About 1 cup
1 cup cherry tomatoes or teardrop tomatoes, quartered
3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar Salt, freshly ground pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in medium bowl; mix lightly to combine.
Nutrition information per 1/4 cup:
Calories ………… 370 Fat ……….. 21 g Saturated fat …. 7 g
% calories from fat .. 51 Cholesterol .. 75 mg Sodium …….. 305 mg
Carbohydrates …… 22 g Protein ……. 23 g Fiber ………. 1.2 g
CHICKPEAS WITH SPICED PEPPER VINAIGRETTE
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 small red bell pepper, finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed, drained
3 tablespoons minced parsley
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon each: ground cumin, paprika Salt, ground red pepper to taste
1. Heat oil in heavy non-stick skillet over high heat. Add bell pepper; cook, stirring, until softened, 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook 45 seconds; remove from heat.
2. Place chickpeas in mixing bowl; add bell pepper and garlic. Toss with remaining ingredients. Serve at room temperature.
Nutrition information per serving:
Calories ………… 225 Fat ……….. 11 g Saturated fat .. 1.5 g
% calories from fat .. 45 Cholesterol … 0 mg Sodium …….. 320 mg
Carbohydrates …… 26 g Protein …….. 6 g Fiber ………… 5 g
