Balkan Burgers Recipes

BALKAN BURGER

Steps:

• Mix all burger ingredients together with a fork and then with your hands. Shape the meat into patties and place covered in the fridge for 40 minutes. Take the burgers out 20 minutes before you want to cook them.
• Toss the shredded cabbage with the apple cider vinegar.
• Heat a grill pan on medium/high heat. Grill the burgers for 5 minutes on each side for medium rare. Remove from the grill pan, tent, and let rest for 5 minutes before assembling.
• While your burgers are cooking, warm your pitas in the oven wrapped in aluminum foil for 5-10 minutes. Slice the pitas in half when they come out of the oven.
• Assemble your burgers: put the bottom half of the pita on a plate, lay down a handful of cabbage, add the burger, top with cheese, sliced onions, ajvar, and the top lid of your pita. Throw the rest of the cabbage and any remaining onions on the plate to enjoy along the way.

BALKAN BURGER

Steps:

• Lightly mix ground beef, pork, lamb, minced onion, garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper together in a mixing bowl making sure not to overwork it. Form into 2 patties and place in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight covered.
• When ready, heat grill to high. Remove patties from fridge and sprinkle with a little bit of salt and pepper on both sides. Toss them on the grill for 5 minutes on each side for medium or until you reach desired doneness. Slide the burgers into a sliced open Lepina bun and add the ajvar, tomatoes and onions. Serve with fries or chips.

BALKAN BURGERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, place meats, 1/2 cup chopped onions, salt, pepper and sparkling water. Using your hands, lightly combine ingredients. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Divide mixture into six equal balls. Place one ball between two sheets of plastic wrap and use the heel of your hand to pound it to a thin patty, about 1/4-inch thick and 6 inches in diameter. Repeat with remaining meat; refrigerate patties about 1 hour.
• Heat a grill or heavy skillet to very hot. Cook patties, turning often, until well browned on both sides, about 5 minutes total. Cut pita breads in half horizontally, and serve burgers between pieces of pita. Sprinkle with onions and spread with kajmak and ajvar as desired.

BLACK BEAN BURGER

Steps:

• Mix together the beans, breadcrumbs, onions, chili powder, egg and some salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Form the mixture into 1 big (or 2 smaller) patties.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat and add some canola oil. Cook the burger 4 minutes per side. Serve on a kaiser roll with arugula, tomato slices and mayo.

KAJMAK WITH HERBS

Steps:

• Bring cream cheese, butter, ricotta and sour cream to cool room temperature. In a mixer or a food processor, combine cream cheese and butter and mix until fluffy and smooth. Mix in ricotta and sour cream.
• Add remaining ingredients and mix or process until thoroughly incorporated. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 3 days. Serve with Balkan burgers (pljeskavica, see recipe) or as a dip.

BULGOGI BURGERS

Steps:

• Cook and stir sesame seeds in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat until they are fragrant and toasted, about 2 minutes. Transfer immediately into a small bowl and let cool.
• Mix ground beef, green onions, roasted garlic, mirin wine, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, black pepper, salt, and toasted sesame seeds together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Divide the meat mixture into 8 portions and form each portion into a large beef patty about 1/2 inch thick.
• Pan-fry the burgers in a large skillet over medium-low heat until browned and the meat is no longer pink inside, about 8 minutes per side. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of the burgers should read at least 145 degrees F (65 degrees F).

BHAJI BURGER

Steps:

• First, make the burgers. Tip all the ingredients into a bowl with a good pinch of salt and squeeze together with your fingers. Shape into three patties and chill in the fridge.
• For the raita, grate the cucumber and squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Put in a bowl with the yogurt, mint and some salt. Mix and chill.
• For the bhajis, tip the flour, spices and bicarb into a bowl with a pinch of salt. Slowly add 200ml cold water to make a thick batter (you might not need all of it), then mix in the onion.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the batter in batches so you have three burger-sized bhajis. Sizzle for 3 mins until crispy on one side, then flip and cook on the other side until cooked through. Keep warm.
• Barbecue, griddle or pan-fry the burgers to your liking. Put lettuce and a burger on each bun and top with some raita, a bhaji and red onion. Serve the mango chutney on the side.

SOFT AND CHEWY BALKAN BREAD

Steps:

• Mix milk and water in a pot over low heat. Heat, stirring constantly, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the pot reads 110 degrees F (43 degrees C). Remove from heat. Add sugar and stir to dissolve. Pour mixture into a cup or other cylindrical glass; sprinkle yeast on top. Let mixture rest until yeast is frothy and fragrant, about 10 minutes.
• Stir flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Pour in yeast mixture and mix until a sticky dough forms.
• Turn dough out on a floured work surface and knead quickly for 5 minutes. Shape dough into a ball. Grease a large bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add dough; toss around the bowl a few times to coat evenly with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and a towel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Return dough back to the work surface and punch down. Coat your hands with a little olive oil and knead again for 1 minute. Divide into 5 balls. Flatten the balls out into thick rectangles. Place the rectangles of dough onto a greased baking sheet. Brush the tops with a thin coat of olive oil. Let rest for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) while the dough rests.
• Bake bread in the preheated oven for 12 minutes. Switch to the broil setting until the top of the rolls turn golden brown, about 1 minute. Remove from the baking sheet and allow to cool completely. Cut rolls in half lengthwise.

PAUL BUNYAN BURGERS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels. In the drippings, saute mushrooms and onion until tender. Transfer to a large bowl with a slotted spoon; add bacon. , In another bowl, combine the egg, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, salt, pepper and horseradish; sprinkle beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into six 1/4-in.-thick patties. , Divide bacon mixture among three patties. Top with a cheese slice; fold in corners of cheese. Top with remaining patties; seal edges. , Grill, uncovered, over medium-hot heat for 5-6 minutes a side or until a thermometer reads 160° and meat juices run clear. Serve on buns.

BLACK BEAN BURGERS RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a pan. Combine onions, garlic, salt, and pepper and cook until onions are translucent.
• Add carrots, cumin, coriander, chili powder, and cayenne pepper until carrots are tender. Remove pan from heat.
• In a bowl, mash the beans and then add the contents of the pan along with the soy sauce and quick oats.
• Mix and form four patties. Place in freezer for 30 minutes to set.
• Cook patties on a pan coated in cooking spray over medium heat, flipping halfway.
• Use patties to create your dream veggie burger.
• Enjoy!

OLD FASHIONED BURGER RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the whiskey-caramelized onions: In a large, high-walled skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they caramelize and turn golden brown, about 45 minutes. Add the whiskey and salt and stir to combine. Remove the pan from the heat and let sit until ready to use.
• Make the roasted orange mustard: Turn the broiler on high.
• Use a sharp knife to remove the peel from the orange, then slice the orange crosswise into ½-inch rounds. Arrange the rounds in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Broil the orange slices until they begin to brown and crisp on the top, about 10 minutes.
• Remove the oranges from the oven and transfer to a large bowl to cool slightly. Use a potato masher to mash the juice from the oranges, and then strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the flesh to extract as much juice as possible. You should have about ¼ cup of roasted orange juice.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the orange juice, Dijon mustard, yellow mustard, and bitters until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the smash burgers: Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C).
• Divide the ground beef into 8 4-ounce portions, being careful not to work the meat too much.
• In a small bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, and coriander.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until nearly smoking. Pour the olive oil into the hot pan. Place 2 portions of ground beef, or as many as will fit without overcrowding, in the pan and use a flat metal spatula to flatten into patties. Use the back of a wooden spoon to press the spatula more firmly to flatten each patty even more. Season each patty generously with the salt mixture. Once the patties turn golden brown on the bottoms and the edges are crispy, about 2 minutes, flip and continue cooking until the other side is golden brown, about 2 more minutes. Top each patty with 1 slice of American cheese and let melt, about 30 seconds. Remove from the pan and repeat with the remaining ground beef.
• Assemble the burgers: Place the intact burger buns on a baking sheet. Brush the top of each bun with beaten egg, then sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Transfer to the oven and bake until the egg wash turns golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Open the buns and place ¼ cup of shredded lettuce on each bottom bun, followed by 2 tomato slices, a patty, ¼ cup caramelized onions, and a second patty. Spread 2 tablespoons of the orange mustard over the undersides of the top buns, then place on top of the burgers. Serve with old fashioneds.
• Enjoy!