Ground lamb patties are seasoned with feta cheese, garlic, and herbs, then grilled and wrapped in pita bread. Plan in advance to let the lamb mixture refrigerate several hours or overnight before grilling. The burgers may also be broiled or fried in a heavy skillet.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- Burgers:
- 2 pounds lean ground lamb
- 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 cup minced onions
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/3 pound feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint or 2 tablespoons dried
- 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- .
- To Serve:
- 6 pita breads, warmed
- Sliced tomatoes
- Thinly sliced red onions
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Yogurt Cucumber Sauce (Recipe link below), optional
Preparation:
To make the burgers:In a large bowl, combine lamb, bread crumbs, egg, onions, garlic, feta cheese, oregano, mint, cumin, lemon juice, parsley or cilantro, salt, and pepper. Knead the mixture well. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Form the ground meat into 6 oval patties, not packing the meat too tightly. Grill over a medium charcoal fire or saute until the meat is still slightly pink in the center.
To Serve:
Fold a warm pita bread in half around each cooked burger. Add the sliced tomatoes, onions, and a bit of feta to each. Let guests spoon on the Yogurt Cucumber Sauce. Serve with lots of napkins.
Yield: 6 servings
• Yogurt Cucumber Sauce Recipe
Source: The Complete Meat Cookbook by Bruce Aidells and Denis Kelly (Houghton Mifflin Company)
Reprinted with permission.
