GREEK LAMB-FETA BURGERS WITH CUCUMBER SAUCE

Greek Lamb-Feta Burgers With Cucumber Sauce image

These grilled lamb burgers are served with slices of ripe tomatoes and red onion in pita bread with a fresh tasting cucumber sauce seasoned with fresh mint and garlic.

Provided by USA WEEKEND columnist Pam Anderson

Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

4 large unpeeled garlic cloves
1 ¼ pounds ground lamb
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
¾ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ large cucumber, peeled, grated and squeezed very dry in a clean towel
¾ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon minced fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon red or rice wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
4 large, thin red onion slices
4 large, thin tomato slices
4 small (4 inch) pita breads

Steps:

Set 4 whole garlic cloves in a small skillet over medium-high heat; toast until spotty brown, about 5 minutes. Peel, mince and set aside.
Break up lamb in a medium bowl. Sprinkle roasted garlic, feta, oregano, salt and pepper over meat; stir with a fork to combine. Divide into 4 portions. Toss meat back and forth between cupped hands to form a ball. Pat with fingertips to flatten to about 4 inches wide. Refrigerate.
Mix cucumber, sour cream, mint, vinegar, 1 minced clove of garlic, and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl. Refrigerate sauce until ready to serve.
Build a hot fire on one side of grill. Replace rack. When coals are covered with white ash, add burgers. Cover and cook, turning only once, until done, about 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium to medium-well burgers.
Grill pitas until spotty brown and warm, a minute or so per side. Split crosswise. Spread a couple of tablespoons of sauce over 4 pita halves. Top each with an onion slice, a tomato slice and a burger. Spread a portion of the remaining sauce over each burger. Top with remaining pita halves.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 649.5 calories, Carbohydrate 25.2 g, Cholesterol 139.2 mg, Fat 46.8 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 31.2 g, SaturatedFat 23 g, Sodium 760.5 mg, Sugar 3.6 g