American Gyro Burgers With Tahini Sauce Recipes

SHAWARMA BURGERS WITH TAHINI-YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Gather your ingredients.
• For the sauce: Peel a clove of garlic with a crack of knife against the heel of your hand. In a small bowl, whisk up yogurt, tahini, the juice of 1 lemon and cumin. Then grate the garlic into the sauce with a zester or paste it with a knife (add a fat pinch of salt). Whisk sauce again.
• For the burgers: Preheat a cast-iron skillet or heavy griddle or frying pan over medium to medium-high heat.
• Place ground lamb or chicken in a mixing bowl. Season the meat with salt and pepper, cumin, coriander, paprika, sumac if using, turmeric, cardamom, crushed red pepper, allspice and nutmeg. Crack 2 cloves garlic and grate them into the bowl or finely chop. Peel the onion and grate about 3 tablespoons of it into the bowl. Finley chop the mint and parsley then add them to the lamb. Combine all the ingredients and mound up. Score meat into 4 equal portions and form 4 patties, thinner at the center for even cooking.
• To prepare the burgers, add EVOO, 1 slow turn of the pan, to skillet (a thin layer to just glaze the surface). Add patties and cook about 7 minutes for lamb, a minute or two longer for chicken, turning occasionally. If cooking lamb, press down with spatula when you turn the patties -- lean ground lamb tends to tighten as it cooks more so than other ground meats.
• When you remove the patties they can be served as such but for a more authentic facsimile of shawarma, we rest the patties and very thinly slice them on a bias. Regardless, while the burgers cook, prepare your toppings of choice.
• Assemble burgers: bun bottoms, sauce, patty or thinly sliced shawarma, lettuce, hot cherry peppers, cucumbers, herb leaves, dressed fennel and onions, bun top. OR split a pita and fill with giardiniera and Israeli pickles.
• Poke with a couple of toothpicks and split burgers down the middle. Serve burgers with chips.

AMERICAN GYROS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9x13-inch baking dish. Line with parchment paper that extends up the sides. Turn the parchment paper over so the oiled side is up.
• Place ground lamb and beef in a mixing bowl. Add onions, garlic, rosemary, oregano, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and bread crumbs. Mix until well combined. Transfer to prepared baking dish and press the meat mixture firmly into the dish in an even layer that extends to the edges. Meat mixture should be packed and fairly dense.
• Bake in preheated oven until nicely browned, 40 to 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Cool to room temperature. Transfer to a plate. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, 1 to 2 hours.
• Transfer meat to a cutting board. Cut into 3 pieces crosswise. Slice each piece into 1/8-inch thick slices as you need them.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook slices until browned, about 2 minutes per side.

GYRO BURGERS WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine yogurt, shredded cucumber, garlic, mint, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small container. Cover and refrigerate.
• Combine beef, oregano, feta cheese, onion powder, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl. Form into 4 patties.
• Grill patties on each side until desired doneness is reached.
• Grill pitas for a minute or two on each side to warm.
• Assemble sandwiches - open pitas, add burger, a dollop of sauce, and any of the sliced vegetables listed above for garnish. Enjoy!

GYRO BURGERS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine lamb, beef, bread crumbs, minced onion, garlic, allspice, coriander, cumin.
• Add just 1 tsp of the salt and 1/8 tsp of the pepper and mix well.
• Form into 4 patties, cover and chill 2 hours.
• In another bowl, whisk together vinegar, oregano, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper.
• Gradually whisk in the oil until blended well.
• Add tomatoes, sliced onions, and cucumbers and stir to coat.
• Cover and let marinate at least 2 hours (no more than 8 hours).
• When you are ready to cook your burgers, oil& preheat your grill and grill as you would any hamburger (10-15 minutes or so- or until no pink remains but burger is still moist).
• When burgers are fully cooked, slit pita pockets open on the sides to form open pockets (you can warm the pita up by setting on the side of grill briefly) and place a burger inside.
• Have bowls of the tomato topping, the shredded lettuce, and some tzatziki(a Middle Eastern style yogurt sauce) on the table for guests to add as desired.
• The yogurt sauce is available in the dairy case near dips or at the deli counter or some markets or you can prepare a homemade version.

GYROS BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil grate.
• In large bowl, combine ground beef, ground lamb, onion, garlic and bread crumbs. Season with savory, allspice, coriander, salt, pepper and cumin. Knead until mixture is stiff. Shape into 4 very thin patties (1/8 inch to 1/4 inch thick).
• Cook patties for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.

GYRO BURGERS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the yogurt, garlic, rosemary, lemon-pepper and salt. Crumble meat over mixture; mix well. Shape into four oval patties. , Grill, covered, over medium heat for 6-7 minutes on each side or until meat is no longer pink. Serve in pita bread with sliced cucumber and Cucumber Sauce.

GREEK TURKEY BURGERS WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix 1/2 cup of the yogurt and remaining sauce ingredients; refrigerate until serving.
• Heat gas or charcoal grill. In medium bowl, mix all burger ingredients and remaining yogurt. Shape mixture into 4 patties, about 1/2 inch thick.
• Place patties on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 8 to10 minutes, turning after 5 minutes, until meat thermometer inserted in center of patties reads 160°F. Place burgers on buns; top with tomato slices and sauce.