Mediterranean Spice Burger with Greek Salad & Creamy Feta
A spiced grilled meat with a crunchy salad drowning in a delicious yogurt sauce is my favorite dinner of all time. My kids prefer their meat sandwiched between two buns. To compromise, I married the two ideas together and created these burgers that satisfy everyone. The salad can be remixed in so many ways and the burgers can double as meatballs or breakfast with a couple of fried eggs if you happen to have some leftover patties. The yogurt sauce is just as at home on a bowl of grilled chicken thighs and rice, as it is on these burgers. I’m all about food that can wear as many hats as possible. Let your food be flexible and fun and leave some time for adventures!
Ingredients:
Makes 8 servings
2 pounds ground lamb or beef
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon harissa powder (can be omitted and it will still taste great!)
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped finely
Greek Salad:
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
2 English cucumbers, sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped finely
Creamy Feta Sauce:
1 garlic clove
½ cup greek yogurt
¼ cup feta crumbles
juice of 1 lemon
2-3 tablespoons fresh dill
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the greek salad and toss to coat with the dressing. Set it aside. Add all of the creamy feta sauce ingredients to the blender and blend until combined. If it is too thick you can add a splash of water and blend again. Pour into a jar and pop in the fridge. Now let’s make the burger patties! Separate the ground meat into 8 pretty equal portions. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just eyeball it. Lay out some parchment on a baking sheet or plate to put the patties on once they are formed. Roll the portioned meat into balls. Press them flat into a patty shape and lay out on the parchment. Next combine all of the seasonings in a small bowl and sprinkle half over the burgers. Press the seasoning in gently and flip the patties over and use the rest of the spice mixture on this side. Preheat your grill to medium heat and cook the burgers to your desired doneness. Serve on a bun with the feta sauce over top and the salad on the side. Enjoy!
