Turkish-Style Lamb Burgers with Walnut Sauce

By California Walnuts
Total Time
35 Mins
Serves
6
Serving Size
1 burger

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.

Prep Time
25 Mins
Cook Time
10 Mins
Total Time
35 Mins
Calories
330
Total Fat
17
Polyunsaturated Fat
5
Cholesterol
55
Sodium
639
Carbohydrates
25
Dietary Fiber
3
Protein
19

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.