SPINACH AND FETA BURGERS
Serves: 6
For the sauce:
A 6-inch (15-cm) piece of English cucumber (the long, thin kind) Kosher salt
1 cup (250 mL) plain Greek yogurt 1 tsp (5 mL) minced garlic
For the burgers:
3 tbsp (45 mL) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
5 oz (142 g) baby spinach Kosher salt
1 tsp (5 mL) minced garlic 1/4 tsp (1 mL) hot pepper flakes, optional
1 large egg
12 oz (340 g) trimmed cooked lamb or pork chop meat or steak, or leftover roast meat
3 oz (86 g) coarsely crumbled feta cheese
3/4 cup (180 mL) panko bread crumbs 6 pita halves
Shredded romaine lettuce and sliced tomatoes for garnish
1. Make the sauce: Peel, halve lengthwise and seed the cucumber. Coarsely shred it and in a medium bowl toss it with a pinch of salt.
2. Let the cucumber stand for 10 minutes and then add the yogurt, garlic, additional salt to taste; stir well.
3. In a large non-stick skillet heat 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the oil over medium-high heat until hot.
4. Add the spinach and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the garlic and hot pepper flakes, if using, and cook, stirring, until all of the spinach is wilted, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
5. Transfer the mixture to a shallow bowl and cool to room temperature in the refrigerator. Wipe out and reserve the skillet.
6. In a food processor, process the egg until it is lightly beaten. Cut the lamb into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces and add it to the food processor.
7. Pulse 6 to 8 times or until the meat is chopped into mediumfine pieces. Add the feta, cooled spinach mixture and 1/4 cup (60 mL) of the bread crumbs and pulse two or three times or until just mixed.
8. Shape the mixture into six burgers. Spread out the remaining bread crumbs in a soup or pie plate.
9. Heat the remaining 2 tbsp (30 mL) of oil in the reserved large skillet over medium heat until hot.
10. Dip the burgers into the crumbs to coat them lightly on all sides; shake off any excess crumbs. Add the burgers to the skillet and cook until golden and heated through, about 3 minutes a side.
11. Transfer the burgers to the pita halves and spoon some of the sauce over each burger. Garnish with the lettuce and tomatoes.