Inside Out Lamb Cheeseburgers Recipes

INSIDE-OUT LAMB CHEESEBURGERS

Steps:

• Start a charcoal or wood fire or preheat a gas grill. Or, on a stove top, heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat for 3 or 4 minutes.
• Put meat and some salt and pepper in a food processor, in batches if necessary, and pulse until coarsely ground: finer than chopped, but not much. Taste and adjust seasoning. (If desired, cook a teaspoon of meat in a pan before tasting.) Divide meat into 4 sections and shape each one around a piece of cheese, enclosing it fully.
• Cook over moderately hot fire: you will be able to hold your hand 3 or 4 inches over rack for a few seconds. Grill burgers about 4 minutes a side for medium-rare, and until cheese begins to melt. (Timing on stove top is the same.)
• Serve on buns, toast or hard rolls, garnished as you like.

LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil, toss in the diced onions and season with salt and crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to medium-high heat and cook the onions for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 4 more minutes. Turn the heat off and let cool.
• In a large bowl, combine the lamb, the cooled onion mixture, the dill, mint, oregano, lemon zest and 1/2 to 3/4 cup water. Sprinkle with salt and combine well. Make a little "tester patty," cook it and taste for seasoning.
• Preheat the grill.
• Form the lamb mixture into 4 equal patties and sprinkle with salt. Grill the burgers to your desired doneness, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Remove the burgers from the grill and let rest for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Cut the Whole-Wheat Pitas in half. Schmear each half generously with the Pickled Feta Spread. Top one half with a burger, then tomatoes, sliced onions and spinach. Place the other pita half on top.
• In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar and yeast and let sit for 15 minutes.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flours, cumin, salt and cayenne. Add the yeast mixture and the olive oil. Mix on medium speed to combine and knead the dough. It should take 6 to 7 minutes. The dough will be firm and not sticky or tacky.
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and roll into 7-inch rounds (1/4-inch thick). Divide the dough between 2 sheet trays, cover them loosely with a clean tea towel or plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.
• Bake the pitas for 3 to 4 minutes, then turn the pitas over and bake for 2 more minutes. Let cool and use as desired.
• Place the vinegar, sugar, salt, tea bags, bay leaf and herb stems, if using, in a small saucepan along with 1 cup water. Heat until the sugar and salt has dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Place the feta in a small container. Add the vinegar mixture and be sure that the feta is submerged in the liquid. Let sit for a couple of hours outside the refrigerator if using right away, or in the refrigerator if using in the future.
• Strain the feta from the pickling liquid and discard the tea bags, bay leaf and stems. Place the feta in a food processor and add the yogurt. Pulse until combined.

LAMB BURGERS WITH FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• Divide lamb into 8 portions of equal size. Shape each into a patty and sprinkle on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle top of each patty with an equal amount of cumin and rosemary. Pat to help the herb and spice adhere.
• Patties may be broiled or cooked in a skillet. If broiled, preheat broiler to high. Place patties on a baking sheet and place about 3 inches from source of heat. Broil them 2 minutes if you wish them rare, 4 minutes for well done. Turn patties and cook 1 minute if you wish them rare, 2 minutes for well done.
• If patties are cooked in a skillet, select one large enough to hold them in one layer. Brush skillet with a little oil and heat thoroughly on stove. Cook patties over moderately high heat for 2 minutes if you wish them rare, 4 minutes if well done. Turn patties and continue cooking 1 minute for rare, 2 minutes for well done.
• However the patties are cooked, top each with a portion of feta cheese.
• Place under broiler, preheated to high, about 3 inches from the source of heat. Let broil about 1 minute. Dot center of each patty with half a teaspoon of finely chopped parsley.

LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Thoroughly mix ground lamb, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, salt, and pepper together in a bowl; shape into 4 patties.
• Cook the burgers until they are beginning to firm and are hot and slightly pink in the center, about 5 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). Alternately, you can cook the burgers to your desired degree of doneness. Rest burgers while assembling toppings.
• Mix mayonnaise and mustard together in a small bowl; spread 1 tablespoon of the mixture onto one side of each bun. Put a burger onto each bun and top with tomato and greens. Sandwich with remaining bun half to serve.

GOAT CHEESE STUFFED LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir the onions in the oil until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Gently knead together the softened onions, lamb, egg, bread crumbs, garlic, salt, and pepper. Divide the mixture into 6 parts and roll into balls, then cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Mix together the goat cheese, extra-virgin olive oil, basil, and oregano until well combined; cover and chill for 5 minutes.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.
• Working with one portion of meat at a time, make an indentation in the center of the ball with your thumb. Fill the indentation with a heaping tablespoon of the goat cheese mixture. Gently pull and form the meat patty around the cheese filling, making a burger-shaped patty. Repeat with each ball of the lamb mixture.
• Grill the patties on the preheated grill until no longer pink in the center and well done, about 8 minutes per side.