Spring Lamb Sliders Recipes

LAMB SLIDERS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Mix garlic, cumin, coriander, allspice, salt, and pepper together in a bowl; add lamb and mix well. Form mixture into 2-ounce patties.
• Grill patties on the preheated grill until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Place rolls on the grill and heat until toasted, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Layer spinach, tzatziki sauce, lamb patty, red onion, and feta cheese in each roll, creating a slider.

SANTORINI LAMB SLIDERS

Steps:

• Line a strainer or colander with 4 layers of cheesecloth or 1 coffee filter; place over a bowl. Place yogurt in prepared strainer; cover yogurt with sides of cheesecloth. Refrigerate 2-4 hours. Meanwhile, place cucumber in a colander over a plate; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and toss. Let stand 30 minutes. , For burgers, in a large bowl, combine lamb, lemon zest, 2 garlic cloves, oregano, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into ten 1/2-in.-thick patties. Refrigerate 30 minutes., For sauce, remove yogurt from cheesecloth to a bowl; discard strained liquid. Squeeze cucumber and blot dry with paper towels. Add cucumber, lemon juice, dill, remaining 2 garlic cloves, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper to yogurt, stirring until combined., Grill burgers, covered, over medium heat 3-4 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 160°. Grill buns over medium heat, cut sides down, for 30-60 seconds or until toasted. Serve burgers on buns with lettuce, red onion, feta and sauce.

SHREDDED LAMB SLIDERS

Steps:

• Sprinkle roast with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; brown meat. Transfer meat to a 6- or 7-qt. slow cooker. In the same skillet, cook and stir carrots, shallots and garlic until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Add stock, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Pour over lamb. Cook, covered, on low until lamb is tender, 6-8 hours., Meanwhile for pesto, place mint, basil, pine nuts and salt in a food processor; pulse until chopped. Continue processing while gradually adding oil in a steady stream. Add Parmesan and Asiago cheeses; pulse just until blended., When cool enough to handle, remove meat from bones; discard bones. Shred meat with 2 forks. Strain cooking juices, adding vegetables to shredded meat; skim fat. Return cooking juices and meat to slow cooker. Heat through. Serve on buns with pesto and feta.

LAMB SLIDERS WITH TZATZIKI

Steps:

• For the tzatziki: Cook the beet in boiling water until soft. When cool enough to handle, peel and add to a blender. Puree with the sugar and butter.
• Put the garlic and vinegar in a blender and blend until smooth. Shred the cucumber on a box grater. Put the cucumber shreds in a towel, squeeze to remove all the liquid and put in a bowl. Add the yogurt, garlic and vinegar mixture, chopped dill, and season with lemon juice, salt, and white pepper. Add enough beet puree until you reach a color you like.
• For the sliders: Place a grill pan over medium heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill.
• Thoroughly mix together the lamb, mint, oregano, feta, cumin, onions, jalapeno, salt and black pepper. Form into 4 to 6 patties. Grill to desired temperature, place on a bun, and top with the tzatziki.

LAMB SLIDERS

Steps:

• Place a grill pan over medium-low heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook until the shallots are soft, 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic, 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and cool slightly.
• Combine the shallot mixture, lamb, cumin, ketchup, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Form the mixture into 8 patties each 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 1/2-inch thick. Press a cube of cheese into the middle of each patty and form the meat around the cheese to cover. Brush the patties with the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil and grill until cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Let the patties rest for 2 minutes. Place the patties in the buns and serve.

ROAST LAMB SHOULDER WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Season lamb inside and out with salt and pepper. Smear interior with garlic paste and 3 tablespoons chopped mint. Press meat together in a long oval shape, then tie securely with butcher's twine. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and massage evenly over roast. Leave at room temperature for 1 hour, or refrigerate for up to several hours, even overnight. (If refrigerating, bring to room temperature before proceeding.)
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. An hour or so before you plan to eat, put lamb on a rack in a roasting pan and cook for about 40 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer registers 125 degrees for medium rare. Let meat rest for at least 20 minutes (up to 45 minutes is fine) before slicing.
• Meanwhile, cook carrots in simmering salted water until just done, 5 to 7 minutes. Rinse in cold water to cool, then drain and reserve.
• In a wide, deep skillet with a lid, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high. Add onion and artichoke, if using, and season with salt and pepper. Let sizzle and color a bit, then reduce heat and cook for about 10 minutes, until onion and artichoke are softened. Stir in garlic. (You may prepare onions and artichoke up to this point in advance.) Turn off heat.
• About 5 minutes before serving, set heat under skillet to medium-high. Add fava beans, asparagus, carrots and snow peas. Season well with salt and stir gently to mix, then add 1/2 cup water and put on lid. Let cook for about 4 minutes more, until vegetables are done.
• Slice lamb and arrange on a large platter. Spoon vegetables around meat, sprinkle with parsley and remaining tablespoon of chopped mint.