Niamhs Juicy Lamb Burgers With Raita Recipes

JUICY LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• Combine lamb, shallot, garlic, salt, cumin, allspice, cayenne, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly to combine the seasonings and the meat.
• Form the meat mix into 4 patties about 1/2 inch thick. Cover the patties with plastic wrap, and chill for at least two hours. This will allow the spices to completely season the meat.
• Prepare a grill to medium high heat. Brush both sides of the burgers with the oil, to keep them from sticking to the grill.
• Grill the patties for about 4 minutes on each side for medium doneness (or adjust to your preferred temp). Remove from heat, and cover to keep warm while you toast the buns.
• Place the buns, cut side down, on the grill for 1 to 2 minutes to toast.
• Place the burgers on the toasted buns, and garnish as desired. serve immediately.

CURRIED LAMB BURGERS WITH GRILLED VEGETABLES AND MINT RAITA

Steps:

• For raita:
• Mix yogurt, mint, cilantro, and lime peel in small bowl. Season to taste with coarse salt and pepper. Cover; chill until cold, at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• For burgers and vegetables:
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt. Sauté until onion is tender, about 8 minutes. Mix in curry powder and stir 30 seconds. Remove from heat. Cool onion mixture to room temperature, at least 15 minutes.
• Place lamb in large bowl. Add onion mixture, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, cilantro, and 1 teaspoon cracked pepper. Blend mixture gently; shape into six 1/2-inch-thick patties.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Combine zucchini, green onions, and chile in another large bowl. Add 2 tablespoons oil, 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper; toss to coat. Place vegetables and burgers on grill. Cook until grill marks appear, about 4 minutes. Turn vegetables and burgers over. Cook vegetables until tender, about 3 minutes. Cook burgers to desired doneness, about 4 minutes for medium-rare. Cut zucchini and green onions crosswise into 2-inch-long pieces. Cut chile into thin strips.
• Place breads on plates; top with burgers and tomato slices. Mound vegetables on burgers; spoon dollop of raita over. Fold bread up around burgers and serve with remaining raita.
• * Often called a pasilla; available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Latin markets.

INDIAN LAMB BURGERS WITH GREEN RAITA SAUCE AND RED ONIONS

Steps:

• Put all of the ingredients for the sauce in food processor and process until smooth. Transfer to a small serving dish and reserve.
• Put the red onion rings in a small bowl and separate the rings. Add the lime juice and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Add the lamb to a mixing bowl along with the garlic, chile, ginger, spices, cinnamon, and salt and pepper, to taste. Mix to combine. Form the meat mixture into 4 sections and make 2 slider-size patties form each portion, 8 (3-ounce) burgers in total, thinner at the center and thicker at the edges.
• Heat a large skillet or a griddle pan with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the burgers and cook a few minutes on each side.
• Put a few leaves of spinach on each of the bun bottoms and add the burger. Top with the onions and green sauce. Cover with the bun tops and serve.
• * Toast and grind your own coriander and cumin if you have a coffee grinder or spice mill.

NIAMH'S JUICY LAMB BURGERS WITH RAITA

Steps:

• Prepare the burgers: Finely chop half of the coriander leaves, discarding the stems. Put the lamb mince, the dried spices and the chopped coriander in a mixing bowl. Crush the cloves of garlic into the bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper. Mix all the ingredients together well with your hands, squishing and turning it. Making sure you've broken down the mince so that it clings together in a ball. Divide into six equally sized balls and press them flat into burger patties. During cooking the patties will draw in, becoming fatter and less spread-out, so make them wider and thinner than you would like them. Separate the burger patties with grease proof paper and put them in the fridge while you make the raita. Burgers may be made a couple of days before they're needed. Keep covered in the fridge to prevent drying out.
• Make the raita: Chop the other half of the coriander leaves. Slice, then chop the cucumber into small pieces. Mix the cucumber, coriander and Greek yoghurt in a bowl, season lightly with salt. Chill until required.
• Cook: Split the burger buns ready for toasting. Barbecue, grill or fry the burgers until well-coloured and starting to char slightly. If grilling or barbecuing, turn once only. About five or six minutes on each side over a good hot barbecue should do it. Frying may take a little longer. About half way through the second side, add the buns to the grill or barbecue to toast lightly.
• Serve: Serve immediately, dressing the burger with lettuce, raita and any other dressings you like. We like home-made crunchy sweet pickled onions.

CURRIED LAMB PATTIES WITH RADISH RAITA

Steps:

• Make raita:
• In a small bowl stir together all raita ingredients and season with salt and pepper.
• Make patties:
• In a large bowl mix together all patty ingredients except oil until combined well and season with salt and pepper. Form mixture into 4 patties about 1 inch thick. In a large heavy skillet oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and cook patties until just cooked through, about 3 1/2 minutes on each side.
• Serve lamb patties with raita.

CURRIED LAMB BURGERS WITH GRILLED VEGETABLES AND MINT RAITA

Steps:

• For raita:
• Mix yogurt, mint, cilantro, and lime peel in small bowl. Season to taste with coarse salt and pepper. Cover; chill until cold, at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• For burgers and vegetables:.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt. Sauté until onion is tender, about 8 minutes. Mix in curry powder and stir 30 seconds. Remove from heat. Cool onion mixture to room temperature, at least 15 minutes.
• Place lamb in large bowl. Add onion mixture, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, cilantro, and 1 teaspoon cracked pepper. Blend mixture gently; shape into six 1/2-inch-thick patties.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Combine zucchini, green onions, and chile in another large bowl. Add 2 tablespoons oil, 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper; toss to coat. Place vegetables and burgers on grill. Cook until grill marks appear, about 4 minutes. Turn vegetables and burgers over. Cook vegetables until tender, about 3 minutes. Cook burgers to desired doneness, about 4 minutes for medium-rare. Cut zucchini and green onions crosswise into 2-inch-long pieces. Cut chile into thin strips.
• Place breads on plates; top with burgers and tomato slices. Mound vegetables on burgers; spoon dollop of raita over. Fold bread up around burgers and serve with remaining raita.
• * Often called a pasilla; available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Latin markets.