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Greek Burger with Tzatziki, Tapenade, and Feta

September 1, 2015 by hapagirl 21 Comments

Greek Inspired Burger with Tzatziki, Tapenade, and Feta

Mini Burger with Caramelized Onions and Garlic Butter

Another burger idea for your Labor Day weekend – Mini Burger with Caramelized Onions and Garlic Butter

Dilemma, dilemma. I just returned from a great camping trip in Oregon and I’m dying to share a few quick and easy camp food posts with you! But then I looked at my calendar and realized that the Labor Day weekend is just a few days away! What to do, what to do… post some killer campsite dishes or give you a great grilling dish to say farewell to summer. After some internal toiling, I decided to go with a fantastic burger to give you plenty of prep time for any Labor Day festivities that you may have planned. If you were hoping for a few camping dishes, not to worry – those are coming on Friday. Labor Day – it’s a holiday to thank the American worker for all of their contributions made to strengthen and solidify the overall well-being of the country. It has also come to symbolize the end of summer and hence the end of grilling season. If you’re into grilling, chances are you’ve already grilled a few burgers this season. In that case, I know you already know how to make a classic burger. However, if you happen to be a burger novice, no need to worry, this is a recipe packed with flavor and easy to follow, for pros and novices alike. Take the classic burger you know and love and give it a Mediterranean twist; what do you have? A succulent and juicy Greek Burger with Tzatziki, Tapenade, and Feta. If you haven’t had a lamb burger before, now is the time to try! Lamb pairs perfectly with the Mediterranean flavors of tzatziki, tapenade, and feta. You’re not into lamb, you say? No need to worry, this burger is great with beef or turkey too! I’ll talk to you again on Friday and have some camp-friendly food suggestions! Until then, enjoy the rest of your week!

Greek Burger with Tzatziki, Tapenade, and Feta
 
Recipe Type: Entree
Author: Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom
Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 7 mins
Total time: 27 mins
Serves: 4 burgers
Juicy and succulent Greek Burger with Tzatziki, Tapenade, and Feta – perfect for the grill or in the skillet and packed with the great Mediterranean flavors you love!
Ingredients
  • [b]Tzatziki:[/b]
  • 2 large garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 2 cups Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon tahini (mix well before using)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 1 1/2 cups English cucumber, seeded and finely diced
  • [b]Tapenade:[/b]
  • 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
  • 1/4 cup pimento stuffed olives
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon capers, drained
  • [b]Burgers:[/b]
  • 2 vine ripened tomatoes, diced
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb (beef or turkey will work too)
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 4 heaping tablespoons crumbled feta
  • 4 hamburger buns, split
  • 1/2 red onion, sliced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
Instructions
  1. To make the tzatziki, use a mortar and pestle to mash the garlic and salt together until it forms a paste. If you do not have a mortar and pestle start by finely mincing the garlic. Sprinkle the garlic with salt and then tilt the blade so that it forms a shallow angle with the cutting board. Scrape the knife across the garlic repeatedly, until it forms a paste. Then in a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, tahini, mint, and lemon. Add the garlic and salt mixture and combine well. Fold the cucumber into yogurt mixture and refrigerate until ready to use. (This can be made the night before).
  2. Add all of the ingredients for the tapenade to the bowl of a food processor. Process until nearly smooth. (This can be made the night before and refrigerated).
  3. Drain the diced tomatoes in a colander placed in the sink.
  4. Heat your grill to high.* If you’re not grilling, heat a heavy bottomed grill pan over high heat.
  5. Divide the ground meat into 4 equal portions. Form them into loose patties a little larger than the diameter of the buns (the patties will shrink when cooked). Once formed [url href=”http://www.thekitchn.com/do-you-need-to-dimple-burger-patties-so-they-stay-flat-putting-tips-to-the-test-in-the-kitchn-207124″ target=”_blank”]make a shallow indentation[/url] in the center of each burger. Brush each side of the patty with the oil and sprinkle each side with salt and pepper.
  6. Cook the burgers for 3 minutes on the first side and 4 minutes the second side.** During the last minute of cooking, top each burger with a heaping tablespoon of feta and cover. Remove from the grill and allow to rest for a couple of minutes. In the meantime, toast the buns on grill for about a minute.
  7. Spread the tzatziki on the bun bottoms and top each a burger patty. Top with tapenade, tomatoes, red onions, and thyme. Cover with the bun tops, serve immediately and enjoy!
 
Notes
* Lamb can be a bit a fatty, so when the fat drips over the flames of the hot coals it can create flare ups – not good for your burger. To avoid this from happening, close the lid and vents of your grill to starve it of oxygen.[br]** For medium-rare, cook beef and lamb for a total of 7 minutes. If you’re using turkey, you must make sure that they are cooked all the way through to prevent salmonella – the internal temp must reach 165 degrees F.[br]* Inspired by Bobby Flay’s Greek Burger
3.4.3177

 

Greek Inspired Burger with Tzatziki, Tapenade, and Feta

Filed Under: Blog, Dishes, Entrée, Fall, Fusion, Healthy, Lamb, Mediterranean, Recipes, Sandwich, Sports Parties, Spring, Summer, Winter Tagged With: Beef, bread, buns, burger, camping, capers, cheese, cucumber, feta, garlic, Greek, grilling, hamburger, july 4th, labor day, lamb, Mediterranean, memorial day, mint, olive, party, picnic, tapenade, tomato, Turkey, tzatziki, yogurt

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Comments

  1. FoodGeekGraze says

    November 12, 2015 at 11:06 pm

    i especially dig the simple tapenade you chose to use with this burger build, kathleen. i am thinking i could eat that with a spoon. then going for a bit of tahini in your tzatziki… my test kitchen mind is freaking… sounds brilliant clever delicious.

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      November 15, 2015 at 3:04 pm

      Thank you so much! I love a great tapenade too and I must admit, I did steal a few bites of the tapenade while I was photographing 😉

      Reply
  2. Mon Petit Four (@byMonPetitFour) says

    September 3, 2015 at 11:11 pm

    I love LOVE this idea! I am so into mediterranean flavors and usually follow a mediterranean style diet, so I have a lot of the ingredients on hand. This reminds me of the kabobs (made with hamburger meat and onions) that we eat in the Persian culture with yogurt sauce and pita bread…a deconstructed version of this, I guess! That’s why I know I will just love this…looks incredible! Also,I can’t wait to see your camping recipes too…hope you had fun! 🙂

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 4, 2015 at 3:48 pm

      I love mediterranean and middle eastern food as well and I eat tzatziki like it’s going out of style. All of the fresh ingredients and aromatics make me crave it all the time and I’m a total sucker for any Persian stew. I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day weekend, Beeta!

      Reply
  3. Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says

    September 3, 2015 at 7:46 pm

    Whoa! I love lamb and can’t think of a single good reason why I’ve never had a lamb Greek burger with tzatziki? This is going on the must do list!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 4, 2015 at 3:34 pm

      I love lamb too… obviously 😉 I hope you enjoy and have a great Labor Day weekend, Rachelle!

      Reply
  4. Thao @ In Good Flavor says

    September 3, 2015 at 7:38 pm

    We don’t love lamb in my household, but I would love a couple of these with beef or turkey over the Labor Day weekend. This burger sounds so flavorful with the tzatziki and the tapenade. Have a great Labor Day weekend, Kathleen!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 4, 2015 at 3:33 pm

      Hey, that’s ok! I know lamb is always everyone’s cup of tea 🙂 But they are excellent with turkey or beef! Hope you have a wonderful Labor Day weekend my dear 🙂

      Reply
  5. GiGi Eats Celebrities says

    September 3, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    Well NOW I HAVE A CRAVING for Greek! ha! Geeze, thanks 😉

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 4, 2015 at 3:21 pm

      Ha! No problem, Gigi 😉 Welcome to my world, I’m always craving Greek!

      Reply
  6. karrie @ Tasty Ever After says

    September 2, 2015 at 8:44 pm

    Oh yeah, lamb burgers are the best and yours looks fantastic! Love the tapenade on it! So excited to see the camp food posts because I want to make some of your recipes for my trip in 2 weeks and can’t wait to hear about all your camping fun too 🙂

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 2, 2015 at 10:44 pm

      Thanks, Karrie. I’ll make sure to note my camping favs for you 🙂

      Reply
  7. Janette@culinaryginger says

    September 2, 2015 at 3:44 pm

    I’m glad you posted this because this is a delicious looking burger, but I can’t wait to see your camp food recipes.

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 2, 2015 at 10:43 pm

      Thanks, Janette! I’m looking forward to sharing 🙂

      Reply
  8. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    September 2, 2015 at 11:23 am

    I am SO into lamb! But a lamb burger? Oh Helllllllz yes! Loving this Mediterranean spin, girlfriend! Tzaziki sauce is the jam!!! And paired with tapenade and Feta? LOVES it! So perfect for this weekend or every day really!! Pinned! Cheers and I can’t wait to see your camping creations! <3

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 2, 2015 at 1:18 pm

      Thank you my dear 🙂 I think I could put tzatziki on anything!

      Reply
  9. Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says

    September 2, 2015 at 4:13 am

    OH yum. Kathleen! I am in love with the name of this burger, so fascinating. Love how delicious and flavorful this is. Tapenade sounds incredibly delish. I just want to grab this burger right now. Can’t wait to try. 🙂

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 2, 2015 at 1:22 pm

      Thanks, Anu! The tapenade adds a nice punch of flavor to the burger 🙂

      Reply
  10. Helen @ Scrummy Lane says

    September 2, 2015 at 4:08 am

    Well, anything Greek and you know that I’m sold, Kathleen, but I especially love the little touches you’ve added to this burger – like the tapenade and the sundried tomatoes … mmm!
    I must try making a lamb burger some time, too. As they’re already so succulent you don’t really need to add anything else to the meat. 🙂

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 2, 2015 at 1:24 pm

      I actually thought of you when I was making this dish! I thought… will Helen approve??? 😉 I’m so glad that you do! 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Labor Day Recipe Round Up | No Spoon Necessary says:
    September 4, 2015 at 7:32 am

    […] Greek Burger with Tzatziki, Tapenade & Feta – Hapa Nom Nom […]

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I'm Kathleen and I live in the Atlanta area. In a lifelong search to discover where I belong and what group I identify with, I found that food is the strongest tie that brings us together. On Hapa Nom Nom, food is a kind of connective tissue, bringing my background, family, travels, and tastes together in one delicious bite. Find out more!

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