GREEK STYLE BURGERS😍

I don’t get in the mood for burgers that often, but when the weather is this nice I just can’t resist 😍 Adding Greek flavors to a burger and topping with tzatziki sauce is the best way to get your cake and eat it too - you get the delicious flavor of a fat burger without all the heaviness afterwards - a win win and perfect for a weeknight dinner outdoors. You’re gonna love these!

Serves 3-4.

Ingredients:

For the Greek Burgers:

• 1 lb ground beef or ground lamb (or a mixture of both)

• 3 cloves grated garlic

• ½ red onion

• 2 tbsps olive oil, + more for grilling

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• ½ tsp dried oregano

• ¼ tsp smoked paprika

• ½ cup packed chopped fresh parsley

• 10 medium sized mint leaves, chopped

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Iceberg lettuce, pita bread, or burger buns or solo with a Greek salad for serving

• Other topping options: sliced red onion, tomato, cucumbers, fresh dill or mint

For the Tzatziki Sauce*:

• 1 persian cucumber, grated (about ½ cup)

• 1 cup plain greek yogurt

• 1 large garlic clove, minced

• Juice from 1 lemon

• 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil

• Splash of white vinegar

• Salt and pepper to taste

*This will make more than what you need for this recipe, but you can cover and refrigerate the Tzatziki sauce for up to 2 weeks.

Directions:

For the Greek Burgers:

• I like to sauté my red onion in some olive oil before adding to the burger patties, but you can also grate the red onion directly into the meat. If you are sautéing, cook the chopped red onion in 1 tbsp of olive oil for 5-7 minutes on medium heat or until soft. Set aside to let cool.

• In a bowl, add the beef or lamb, garlic, red onion, 2 tbsps olive oil, cumin, oregano, paprika, chopped fresh parsley, chopped fresh mint, and a big pinch of salt and pepper and mix through. Marinate until you lose patience ;)

• Make your tzatziki by adding the shredded cucumber to a bowl and pat dry with paper towels to get rid of excess moisture. Add in the Greek yogurt, grated garlic, lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix and taste to adjust seasonings. Set aside in the fridge until ready to serve.

• Form the burger mixture into 3-4 even patties and press firmly in the middle with your thumb to form a dimple. This will ensure they don’t dome up while cooking.

• Heat a grill or cast iron on medium heat and brush the patties with a bit of olive oil.

• Sear for 3-4 minutes or until you have developed a nice crust, then flip and cook for 3-4 minutes longer. Remove and set aside to rest while you prep your toppings.

• Serve protein style or in pita with the tzatziki sauce and desired toppings and enjoy!