It’s grilling time here in Northern California. While this normally means making up a batch of burgers or dogs to appease the always-starving hordes of small people running around our house, every once in a while it’s also time to get seriously creative and try something new and completely different.
This recipe is inspired completely by my wife. We were discussing her preference for thinner burgers vs. the thick ones that my boys and I generally prefer when she stated matter-of-factly “If they’re stuffed I like them thick! you should have tried the feta stuffed lamb burgers I had the other day. ”
I couldn’t argue that feta stuffed lamb sounded amazing. In fact, since I had a freezer full of ground lamb that had been diverted from another recipe I wasn’t equipped to handle right now, it sounded absolutely perfect. Feta is always on hand and low and behold, I even had some buns tucked in a corner.
Armed with the most fantastic method from Savory Sweet Life on how to form the perfect patty (which is also the ultimate method for making a stuffed patty) and a circle cutter just slightly larger than the buns I was using, I set out.
This method of forming patties is remarkably simple and yields absolutely perfect, uniform patties every time. My circle cutter is pretty tall, so we ended up with 4 very substantial patties. If I’d used a lid as suggested in the original article I probably would have ended up with 6 or 8 but big is good when feeding pre-teens and I was happy with the results.
I decided that I needed something besides the standard lettuce, onion and tomato topping and opted for thin slices or cucumber and radish. The boys still went for lettuce which is fine by me, but for my tastes these toppings were perfect.
Note, there were no condiments used here. These burgers were more than juicy enough to stand without them. If you really must have some kind of sauce, try tzatziki or some yogurt with a squeeze of lemon juice and dill or mint. You definitely don’t want to overpower the burgers themselves.
What’s your favorite grilling recipe? Are you a burger and potato salad type or do you go for chicken, pork or ribs? Have you ever made a stuffed burger? We’d love to know!
Feta Stuffed Lamb Burgers
Ingredients
- Approximately 2 pounds ground lamb
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 Tbsp dehydrated onion flakes
- 2 to 4 ounces feta cheese, depending on your tastes
- 1/2 English cucumber, sliced thin or shredded
- 3 radishes, sliced thin or shredded
- Hamburger buns of your choice
Instructions
- Mix lamb, salt, pepper, paprika and dehydrated onion flakes until well combined. Fill a plastic wrap lined lid 1/2 full of seasoned lamb , leaving a well in the center. Place feta cheese in the well and cover with more of the lamb. Press firmly, removing any jagged edges or leftover meat. Turn onto a foil lined baking sheet. Repeat as many times as necessary. Refrigerate patties for at least one hour before cooking.
- Get the grill ready, or heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patties for 3 minutes per side for rare, 4 minutes per side for medium rare, 5 minutes per side for medium or 6 minutes per side for well done. Turn carefully to avoid tearing the patties open. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Place on a heated bun, top with cucumber and radish slices and cover with the other half of the bun. Serve immediately.
- Share and Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 418Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 672mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 33g
What I would have done differently had I thought of it at the time:
A little tzatziki would have been nice, but is not necessary
Links to other recipes like this:
- Shaping Perfect Hamburger Patties, from Savory Sweet Life
- Stuffed Burgers, from Andrea Meyers
- Gorgonzola Stuffed Burgers, from Steamy Kitchen
Nice, Jerry. I love the idea of the feta in the burger. I’ve tried lamb burgers myself and they’re pretty tasty — used grilled peppers, feta on the outside, and tzatziki, of course. Love the flavors, so I know I’d like your version.
.-= kellypea´s last blog ..Very Berry Buttermilk Sherbet =-.
wow great burgers love lamb
.-= rebecca´s last blog ..Bacon and Spinach in a Creamy Sauce =-.
Never made stuffed burgers before, but they LOOK amazing. My favorite grill dish is Korean barbeque. Takes me back to my childhood summers by the pool.
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..Tomato, Egg, and Goat Cheese on Poilâne =-.
Cheese stuffed into a minced lamb pattie? Open up the pearly gates, I’m on my way to heaven!
I love cheese-stuffed burgers and your method of stuffing and forming them is one I have to try. It’s always a bummer when the cheese oozes out.
.-= Peter´s last blog ..Perek or Fillota (Περέκ ή Φυλλωτά) =-.
I’m there Jerry…what time did you say dinner was:D
I’m on your side, the burger has to be thick and juicy. Love the lamb/feta combination, too!
@kellypea,
Tzatziki would have been nice here too. so would roasted peppers, but I was pushing boundaries with the kids by skipping the lettuce they’re used to ;)
@rebecca,
They’re awesome
@Jessica,
gotta try the stuffed burger. Soooo juicy. Korean ribs sound awesome, too
@Marisa,
Yep. They’re that good.
@Peter
I give all credit to Savory Sweet Life
@bellini valli,
Any time you’re in the area!
@Andrea,
Thanks!
@Johannes,
If you know that the grind is fresh you can go with less than well done. If you’re not sure, cook well!
Looks delicious. Definitely something I will try!
I’m a bit skeptical about medium/rare burgers, though. Isn’t ground meat a fine home for nasty bacteria, and as such it should be cooked throughtout? Perhaps this is just a rumor I’ve never really confirmed. Any idea?
Wow!!off to make some NOW
I added some chopped green olives to the feta and it tasted like a burger from my favorite greek diner. I know the combo sounds weird but it’s a must try if you like green olives. Thanks for sharing this.
I’m Lacie Hoffman, an intern with Superior Farms in Davis, CA, and I noticed your great article on your preparation of lamb burgers! I am super excited to hear all the enthusiasm about lamb. We are kicking off the summer with our summer grilling promotion at http://www.GrillLamb.com. We’re giving away a Mediterranean cruise for two and promoting simple Mediterranean seasonings for lamb. We are hoping to get more lamb lovers this summer by highlighting delicious recipes and cooking tips. If you have any posts coming up, we would love to hear about them! Also, look for us on Facebook.
Thank you for your time!
Sincerely,
Lacie Hoffman
OMG, that looks incredible. What an amazing combination – lamb and feta, yum. And your photos really do it justice. Gorgeous blog.
.-= Michelle@TastyThailand´s last blog ..Garlic in Thailand =-.
I’m so glad I could inspire you!
Mrs. honey, You always inspire me
Ohhh wow! These look delicious!
That looks AMAZING!!! I love stuffing burgers, have never tried lamb though. Good stuff! Found you stumbling!
They are pretty amazing, hope you give it a try!
These look fabulous! I’d love to feature them on my site http://www.canigettherecipe.com with full links and credits back to you if you are keen. Please email me to let me know! Thanks so much!
Cari,
I’d be happy to have them on your site. Emailed you.
Jerry now I’m hungry. The first photo looks fantastic. I don’t have nothing more to say only awesome!
Mmm! Delicious