Persian Kofta Burgers with Tzatiki sauce and grilled tomatoes
Ingredients
Tzatiki 2 cups of plain yogurt
1 medium cucumber, peeled
2 tablespoons of kosher salt
1 clove fresh garlic, minced
1 teaspoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon of freshly minced mint
Patties
1 1/2 pounds of fresh ground angus (75/25, fine ground)
3 tablespoons of fresh minced parsley
3 tablespoons of yellow onion, minced
1 tablespoon of kosher salt
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 clove fresh garlic, minced
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
½ teaspoon of allspice
½ teaspoon of tumeric
½ teaspoon of fresh ground ginger
6 Kaiser rolls
1 large tomato (Beefsteak preferred), sliced into ½” rounds
Instructions
Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high. To prepare the tzatiki mix the yogurt, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice and mint and refrigerate the mixture until ready to use. Grate the peeled cucumber into a separate bowl. Sprinkle salt on top of the grated cucumber and set aside for 20-minutes. After 20-minutes, squeeze the grated cucumber, draining off as much of the liquid as possible. Add the grated cucumber to yogurt mix after water is drained. Refrigerate until ready to spread on the burger buns. To make the patties, first combine all the spices with the meat and then add the minced onion, garlic and parsley. Mix by hand until all spices are incorporated and form into six equal sized patties. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form the portions into patties to fit the rolls. When the grill is ready, brush the rack with extra-virgin olive oil and then place the patties on the rack. Cover and cook patties, turning only once just until done. The total cook time for the patties will be four minutes per side — eight minutes total — for medium rare. Note: Do not press down on patties as they grill. Three minutes before the patties are done, place the tomato slices on the grill, turning once at one and one half minutes. One and one half minutes before burgers are done, place the bread face down on the grill and toast until light brown. To assemble the burgers, spread the tzatziki sauce on both buns. On each roll bottom, place a patty, and grilled tomato slice. Add the roll tops and serve.