Grilled Lamb Burgers With Marinated Red Onions, Dill & Sliced Feta

Grilled Lamb Burgers with Marinated Red Onions, Dill & Sliced Feta are a delicious and flavorful twist on traditional burgers. The combination of juicy ground lamb, tangy marinated red onions, fresh dill, and creamy feta cheese creates a mouthwatering Mediterranean-inspired dish.

To start, you’ll prepare a medium charcoal or gas grill fire and mix the ground lamb with sweet paprika, dried oregano, minced garlic, and kosher salt. This flavorful mixture is then shaped into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.

Next, you’ll lay out slices of feta cheese on a plate and sprinkle them with extra-virgin olive oil and chopped fresh dill. In a separate bowl, you’ll toss thinly sliced red onion with red wine vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, and more dill, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Once the grill is ready, you’ll cook the lamb burgers, flipping them to achieve a beautiful sear and ensuring they are cooked to your desired level of doneness. The burgers should be slightly pink inside for medium doneness.

To assemble the burgers, you’ll place them in warmed pita bread and top them with the marinated red onions, sliced tomato, cucumber, and a generous amount of feta cheese. The combination of the savory lamb, tangy onions, fresh vegetables, and creamy feta creates a delightful explosion of flavors in each bite.

Grilled Lamb Burgers with Marinated Red Onions, Dill & Sliced Feta are perfect for summer grilling and a great option for those who enjoy bold and unique flavor combinations. Serve these burgers alongside your favorite side dishes for a complete and satisfying meal.

SERVES: 4

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/4 lb. ground lamb
• 2 tsp. sweet paprika
• 2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 small clove garlic, minced and mashed to a paste
• 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 6 oz. feta, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (about 8)
• 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 Tbs. chopped fresh dill
• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 3 Tbs. red-wine vinegar
• 1 tsp. granulated sugar
• 4 whole-wheat pita bread, warmed
• 4 thin slices tomato
• 8 thin slices English cucumber

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Prepare a medium charcoal or gas grill fire. Clean and oil the grill grates. Gently mix the lamb with the paprika, oregano, garlic, and 1 tsp. salt. Form into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.
2. On a large plate, lay out the slices of feta and sprinkle with the olive oil and 1 Tbs. of the dill. In a small bowl, toss the onion with the vinegar, sugar, 1/2 tsp. salt, and the remaining 1 Tbs. dill, and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature.
3. Grill the burgers on one side until they have good grill marks, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until it has good grill marks, too, and the burgers are just light pink inside (make a nick with a paring knife), about 5 minutes for medium doneness.
4. Serve the burgers in the warmed pita with the feta, tomato, cucumber, and a heaping teaspoon of pickled onion.

NOTE:

• When you tire of the basic burger, this Mediterranean-inspired version is just the ticket. The quick-pickled red onions add dimension and are a great addition to cucumber, tomato, and pasta salads. To keep with the Greek theme, serve the burgers in warm pita bread, though wholewheat hamburger buns would work, too.
• Feta is best stored in the salty brine it is sometimes packed in. Once opened, it will keep in the refrigerator for at least a week. If the cheese is not in brine, mix 1 cup water with 1/4 cup kosher salt to make a quick brine, and refrigerate in an airtight container.