Spiced Lamb Burger Recipes

MOROCCAN-STYLE LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• Pound all the dry rub ingredients and 1 teaspoon each of sea salt and black pepper in a pestle and mortar until fine.
• Split the minced lamb into 6 pieces, and with wet hands, shape into patties about 1.5cm thick. Pat the dry rub all over the burgers, then drizzle over a tiny bit of olive oil.
• You can either cook the burgers on a barbecue or indoors on a griddle - either light the barbecue and prepare a hot side and a cooler side, or if cooking indoors, heat a large griddle pan over a medium-high heat.
• Cook the burgers for 6 to 7 minutes on each side, or until done to your liking, then remove to a plate.
• Quickly halve and lightly toast the buns on the cool side of the barbecue or in the griddle.
• Spoon the yoghurt into a small bowl and dollop the harissa on top. Squeeze over a little lemon juice to loosen, then ripple the harissa through the yoghurt and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Pick the mint leaves.
• Spread some harissa yoghurt onto the bases of the toasted buns, top with the burgers, squashing them gently into the buns. Add a little more yoghurt, then squeeze the remaining lemon juice over a the mint leaves and place on top. Delicious served with a seasonal salad.

LATIN-SPICED LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• Toast the pepper, coriander and cumin together in a dry pan over low heat until they crackle and pop (shake the pan constantly). Their color should be light brown, and spices should smell like toast, popcorn, smoky, etc. Pour them straight into a coffee grinder and blend the seeds to a fine powder. Add the lamb to a medium bowl and stir in all of the spices, the garlic and salt. Combine well. Form the lamb mixture into 6 even patties.
• Open the dried peppers and shake out the seeds (a few seeds left in is ok). Add the peppers to a saucepan with the water, and boil over medium heat until only 1/4 cup of liquid remains at the bottom. Add the peppers (with cooking liquid), sour cream, oil, garlic and lime to a blender, and blend it until very smooth. Add the salt and blend again. Pour in enough cream to thin the mixture to a saucy consistency. Pulse a few times to incorporate and get squirtable consistency.
• Grill the lamb patties and the ciabatta until nice, dark grill marks are everywhere (lamb is at its juiciest around medium-rare). Put about 1 teaspoon of the sauce on each side of the bun. Slice the patties in half to lay lengthwise on the bread. Crumble the Cotija cheese over the top. Dress Add the onion, tomato slices and lettuce. Cut sandwich lengthwise (along the seam of the lamb patty) and plate with the cross-section facing outward.

GRILLED SPICY LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat grill for medium heat.
• Place the lamb in a large bowl, and mix with the mint, cilantro, oregano, garlic, sherry, vinegar, and molasses. Season with cumin, allspice, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper, and mix well. Shape into 4 patties.
• Brush grill grate with oil. Grill burgers 5 minutes on each side, or until well done. Heat the pita pocket briefly on the grill. Serve burgers wrapped in pitas with feta cheese.

LATIN-SPICED LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• For the patties: Toast pepper, coriander and cumin together in a dry pan until they crackle and pop (shake pan constantly). Their color should be light brown, and spices should smell like toast, popcorn, smoky, etc. Pour them straight into a coffee grinder and blend the seeds to a fine powder. Mix all spices, garlic and salt well into the lamb. Form into 6 even patties.
• For the sauce: After weighing, rip the dried peppers open to shake out the seeds (a few seeds left in is ok). Throw the peppers in a saucepan with the water, and boil over medium heat until only 1/4 cup of liquid remains at the bottom. Add the peppers (with cooking liquid), sour cream, oil, garlic and lime to the blender, and blend it until very smooth. Add salt and blend again. Add cream and pulse a few times just to incorporate and get a saucy, squirtable consistency.
• Grill the lamb patties and the ciabatta until nice, dark grill marks are everywhere (lamb is at its juiciest around medium rare). Put about 1 teaspoon of sauce on each side of the bun. Slice the patties in half to lay lengthwise on the bread, and crumble Cotija cheese on top. Dress with plenty of juicy tomato slices, onion and lettuce. Cut sandwich lengthwise (along the seam of the lamb patty) and plate with cross-section facing outward.

MIDDLE EASTERN SPICED LAMB BURGER RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine lamb, salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, sumac and sesame seeds in a medium bowl.
• Mix to combine, but do not overwork the mixture.
• Heat a cast iron skillet or grill to medium/medium-high heat.
• Portion lamb mixture into 4 equal sized balls of 4 ounces each and form into patties.
• Cook for 4 - 5 minutes per side.
• Set aside to rest while you make the sauce.
• Combine yogurt and tahini in a small bowl. Add lemon juice if desired. Stir to mix until uniform.
• Assemble burgers: lettuce, tomato, tahini yogurt and burger on a sesame seed bun.

SPICED LAMB BURGER

Steps:

• Using a fork, mix lamb, onion, parsley, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup oil in a large bowl. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.
• Prepare grill for medium heat and oil grate. Working one at a time, open each pita pocket by cutting along seam, halfway around perimeter. Spoon filling into pitas, spreading to edges. Close, pressing on filling to seal.
• Grill pitas until filling is cooked through and bread is crisp, about 5 minutes per side.
• Do ahead: Filling can be made 8 hours ahead. Keep chilled. Pita breads can be stuffed 1 hour ahead; cover and chill.

SPICED LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• Prepare a medium-high gas or charcoal grill fire. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the lamb with 1 Tbs. of the olive oil, the coriander, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, 1-1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Form into four 1/2-inch-thick burgers.
• Oil the grill grate. Grill the burgers for 5 minutes, then flip and continue to grill until an instant read thermometer inserted into a burger registers 145°F for medium, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil in a mini food processor with the parsley, cilantro, oregano, vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Process until a coarse paste forms, scraping the sides of the processor at least once.
• Serve each burger in a pita half with the sauce, sliced tomato, and a dollop of yogurt.

SPICED LAMB BURGERS WITH SPRING SLAW

Steps:

• Make the yogurt sauce:
• Whisk yogurt, oil, lemon zest, salt, and garlic in a medium bowl until combined.
• Do Ahead: Yogurt sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Make and assemble the burgers:
• Mix paprika, cayenne, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. black pepper in a small bowl.
• Shape lamb into 4 patties about 3/4" thick. Season with spice mixture on both sides.
• Heat oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Working in batches if needed, cook patties until underside is browned, 5-6 minutes. Turn and cook until browned on other side, 4-5 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer to a plate and let rest 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss asparagus, snap peas, onion, lemon juice, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper in a medium bowl.
• Generously spread yogurt sauce on cut sides of buns. Build each burger with a lamb patty and a mound of slaw. You will probably have extra slaw left over-serve it alongside.

SPICED LAMB BURGER WITH TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Combine lamb, onion, egg, breadcrumbs and 1 tablespoon of sumac in a bowl; shape into 4 patties.
• Cook patties in an oiled fry pan or grill or BBQ until browned on both sides and cooked through.
• Toast bread in toaster or under grill.
• Combine remaining sumac and tzatziki in a small bowl.
• Combine watercress with lemon juice in another bowl.
• Spread tzatziki over bottom layer of bread, arrange 4 beetroot slices, place lamb burger on beetroot and top burger with cress.

GREEK LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• Heat an outdoor gas grill or an indoor griddle to medium (if working with an indoor griddle or skillet, you can just heat it once you prepare the meat mixture).
• Add the ground lamb (or mix of lamb and beef) to a mixing bowl. Add grated onions, garlic, fresh herbs, oregano, cumin, paprika and cayenne. Season with kosher salt and pepper. Add a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and mix until everything is well combined.
• Divide the meat mixture into 8 equal balls. Using both hands, work meat into smooth spheres, then lightly press to form into patties. Arrange the patties on a large tray or dish, and with the tip of your thumb, press lightly to form a shallow, somewhat wide, depression into the center of each patty. (see cook's tip #2 below) Cover and refrigerate, if you have the time.
• Lightly oil the grill grates (or indoor griddle) and arrange the burger patties on top. Grill over medium heat, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, turning once midway through cooking (internal temperature for a medium burger should register 160 degrees F. Adjust cooking time according to your desired doneness.)
• Allow the lamb burgers to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Serve in pita pockets (or buns), with tztaziki sauce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions. If you like add kalamata olives and a sprinkle of feta.

MOROCCAN-SPICED LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the lamb, onion, bread crumbs, mint, garlic, cumin, coriander, 3/4 tsp salt, and the cayenne. Using your hands, mix gently but thoroughly. Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and form each into an oval patty about 4 1/2 inches long and about 3/4 inch thick.
• In a small bowl, stir together the tomato and cilantro and season with salt. Let the patties and the tomato mixture stand at room temperature for 15 minutes, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours. If refrigerated, remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before grilling.
• Prepare a charcoal or gas grill for direct grilling over high heat.
• Grill the burgers over the hottest part of a charcoal fire or directly over the heat elements of a gas grill, turning once, until nicely charred and cooked to your liking, 5-6 minutes per side for medium. About 1 minute before the burgers are done, place the pita breads along the edges of a charcoal grill where the heat is less intense, or on an area of a gas grill with lower heat, so they can warm.
• To assemble the sandwiches, coat the pockets of the pita breads lightly with some of the yogurt, then slip a lamb burger into each bread. Add the tomato mixture, sprouts, and the remaining yogurt, or serve these condiments on the side.

SPICED LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• If grilling or broiling, heat should be medium-high and rack about 4 inches from fire. Put lamb and onion into a food processor (in batches if your machine is small) and pulse until coarsely ground. Put in a bowl with chili, coriander, cumin and turmeric, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix, handling the meat as little as possible, until combined. Taste and adjust seasonings. Handling meat as lightly as possible to avoid compressing it, shape it into 4 or more burgers.
• To broil or grill, cook about 3 minutes on each side for rare and another minute per side for each increasing stage of doneness. For stovetop, heat a large skillet over medium heat for 2 or 3 minutes, then add patties; cook, undisturbed, for about 2 minutes, then rotate them so they brown evenly. Turn once and cook for a total of about 6 minutes for rare.
• Garnish with diced mango, green and red pepper, red onion and scallion, and with shredded carrot and lettuce.