Turkish-Style Lamb Burgers with Walnut Sauce

DESCRIPTION

Packed with exotic spices, this decadent sandwich is a great way to familiarize yourself with popular flavors used in Turkish cooking. This dish incorporates walnuts into a tangy sauce that perfectly complements the texture of these spicy and satisfying lamb burgers.

Total Time
35 Mins
Serves
6
Serving Size
1 burger

Total Time

Prep Time
25 Mins
Cook Time
10 Mins
Total Time
35 Mins

Nutrition

Calories
330 cal
Total Fat
17 g
Polyunsaturated Fat
5 g
Cholesterol
55 mg
Sodium
639 mg
Carbohydrates
25 g
Dietary Fiber
3 g
Protein
19 g

Ingredients

Burgers:

  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1/3 cup bulgur
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1/4 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Sauce:

  • 1 small garlic clove
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup California walnuts
  • 2 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne

pita:

  • 4 pita rounds
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Paprika for dusting
  • Black pepper, to taste

Preparation

  1. Preheat broiler
  2. Soak the bulgur for burgers: Pour boiling-hot water over bulgur with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl and soak 15 minutes, then drain in a sieve.
  3. While the bulgur soaks, prepare the sauce by combining all sauce ingredients in blender and process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl, set aside.
  4. To prepare the burgers, finely chop onion and herbs and combine in a medium bowl with bulgur, lamb, paprika, allspice, pepper, cayenne, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and mix well.
  5. Form lamb mixture into 6 patties.
  6. Arrange pitas on a baking sheet. Brush with olive oil, then lightly dust with paprika and season with black pepper.
  7. Broil on lowest rack until toasted, 1 to 3 minutes (watch to prevent burning).
  8. Keep pitas warm, loosely covered with foil, while broiling burgers.
  9. Oil rack of a broiler pan and heat 3 to 5 minutes. Broil burgers on top rack, turning over once, until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes total. Serve burgers on pitas, topped with sauce.