My Big Fat Greco Inspired Burger Food

MY BIG FAT GREEK BURGERS

Steps:

• Click here to see how she does it.
• In a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill, and salt and pepper.
• Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the feta cheese, dill and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and stir to combine.
• Divide the turkey into 4 equal sized rounds. Make 2 equal sized patties out of each round so you have 8 patties total. Put 2 tablespoons of the spinach-feta mixture onto half of the patties. Top with remaining patties working the turkey around the edges to seal burgers closed. Season the burgers on both sides with the salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Spray a nonstick grill pan with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat, or prepare the grill. Grill the patties until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.
• To serve, place a burger on the bottom half of each bun, top with about 2 tablespoons of yogurt sauce, then 2 or 3 cucumber slices and a lettuce leaf. Top with the other half of the bun and serve.

FAT DOUG BURGER

Steps:

• Prepare the slaw: In a medium bowl, mix together the cabbage, garlic, onion, jalapeno, vinegar, mustard, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, Worcestershire sauce and ShaSha Sauce. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Make the burgers: Build a charcoal fire or heat a gas grill. On a work surface, combine the meats and form the burgers into 4 equal-size patties. Season liberally with salt and pepper.
• Grill the burgers over high heat until medium rare, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile, heat a large saute pan over medium heat. Place 4 heaping piles of pastrami in the pan. After 2 minutes, top each pile with a slice of Swiss cheese. Remove them when the cheese is melted; set aside.
• Pour the butter into the pan. Place the buns in the pan, cut-side down, and toast, about 2 minutes.
• Place a heaping tablespoonful of the slaw on the bottom half of each bun. Top with a burger and a mound of pastrami and cheese. Cover each with the top half of the bun and serve immediately.
• In a food processor, puree the peppers, garlic, mustard and vinegar.
• Pour the puree into a nonreactive saucepan, then add the sugar and bring it to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and simmer the mixture for 30 minutes.
• In a small bowl or juice glass, mix the flour and 1/2 cup water to make a smooth paste. Whisk it into the pepper mixture and continue to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring regularly, until it becomes very thick. Let the sauce cool, then pour it into a covered nonreactive container (such as a glass jar). The sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 month.
• Photograph by Andrew Mccaul

THE BIG PAPA BURGER

Steps:

• Preheat a griddle over medium-high heat.
• For the pork patties: Combine the pork, eggs, barbecue sauce, all-purpose seasoning, Worcestershire sauce and sazon seasoning in a bowl and mix with your hands until completely incorporated. Form into 8 patties and set aside.
• For the brisket patties: Combine the brisket, eggs, steak seasoning and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl and mix with your hands until completely incorporated. Form into 8 patties.
• For the burgers: Cook the pork and brisket patties on the griddle until done, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Just before removing from the heat, add the Cheddar to the brisket patties.
• Assemble the burgers by placing 1 pork patty and 1 brisket patty on each potato bun. Garnish the burgers with a slice of tomato and sweet onion, a piece of lettuce, and the pickles and jalapenos, if using.

GOAT BURGER

Steps:

• Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, pesto and cumin in a mixing bowl and set aside.
• Heat griddle or grill to high heat.
• Form meat into 6 patties, then sprinkle with seasoned salt and place on grill. Sear until brown, about 2 minutes, then flip and repeat for other side. Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking until desired temperature is reached.
• Heat butter in skillet on medium heat and add onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and a golden-brown color.
• Place mozzarella on patties and let it melt. (It can help to put the cheese on a minute or two before the meat is totally cooked, to keep the moisture in and not overcook the meat.)
• Add the onion on top of the cheese and place patties on bottom buns. Top with liberal amount of sauce, 3 tomato slices and the bun tops.
• Serve while hot.

BIG KAHUNA BURGER

Steps:

• Using your hands, gently mix the ground meat with the teriyaki and grill seasoning in a medium bowl. Be careful not to overwork the mixture as that can toughen the meat. Divide into four quarter-pound patties.
• Grill pineapple slices for approximately 1 minute on each side on your grill of choice.
• Grill burgers until desired doneness.
• Place a piece of bacon on each and then top with a piece of jack cheese.
• Top with a grilled pineapple slice and serve on Kaiser rolls spread with Spicy Cilantro Mayo.
• Spicy Cilantro Mayo: Mix all together in a small bowl and use as condiment on Big Kahuna Burgers.

MY BIG FAT GRECO INSPIRED BURGER

Steps:

• Tzatziki with feta:
• Seed and chop the cucumber. In a medium bowl, stir together the cucumber, yogurt, garlic, dill and feta. Refrigerate and chill for 1 hour.
• Grilled Eggplant:
• In a small bowl, combine vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper. Whisk in oil until thick and well blended. Cut the eggplant into 1/2-inch rounds. Arrange in a 13x9x2-inch baking dish; coat well with dressing. Grill eggplant until tender, about 3 minutes each side, keep warm.
• Lamb burger:
• In a large bowl blend together lamb, mint, cumin, salt and pepper, to taste. Form 6 patties.
• Before grilling burgers, brush the grill rack with oil. Place the patties on the rack turning once, 4 minutes each side.
• Cut pitas horizontally and lightly toast over indirect heat.
• Assemble burgers as follows: pita bottom, lettuce, burger topped generously with tzatziki, a slice of grilled eggplant, and the top of the pita.

BIG MOUTH BURGERS

Steps:

• Cut the bacon and the parmesan into small cubes.
• Mix the beef, bacon, parmesan, worcester sauce and eggs together.
• Soak the whole-weat bread under the tap and squeeze out the water so it goes mushy. Add to the meat mixture. This will be a sort of glue for the patties so they stay the right shape. Also works with meatballs.
• Divide me mixture into 4 even balls.
• Shape the balls into whatever shape and thickness you like.
• Fry the patties for about 5 minutes on each side or until they have reached your preferred doneness.
• Cut the ciabatta into 4 even pieces and spread some mayo on the bottom half. Pile on the lettuce, tomato, pickles, avocado, cucumber and top off with a squirt of kethup.
• Hey presto your done. If you've done it right it'll be hard to stick it in your mouth in one go. This just adds to the pleasure of eating. Eat with hands!

BIG DADDY BURGERS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Add the onions and garlic; saute until brown and thoroughly cooked, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
• Add the Worcestershire sauce, bacon, egg, salt, pepper and hot pepper sauce to the onions and garlic. Mix well.
• Add the beef and combine with your hands or a wooden spoon until evenly distributed.
• Form into 4 large patties.
• Grill 5 minutes; turn over and top each patty with a slice of cheese. Cook 4 to 5 minutes until desired doneness.
• Serve on rolls with your favorite condiments.

MY BIG FAT GRECO INSPIRED BURGER

Steps:

• Prepare an open grill for moderate direct-heat cooking
• Seed and chop the cucumber. In a medium bowl, stir together the cucumber, yogurt, garlic, dill and feta. Refrigerate and chill for 1 hour.
• In a small bowl, combine vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper. Whisk in oil until thick and well blended. Cut the eggplant into 1/2-inch rounds. Arrange in a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish; coat well with dressing. Grill eggplant until tender, about 3 minutes each side, keep warm.
• Lamb burger:
• In a large bowl blend together lamb, mint, cumin, salt and pepper, to taste. Form 6 patties.
• Before grilling burgers, brush the grill rack with oil. Place the patties on the rack turning once, 4 minutes each side.
• Cut pitas horizontally and lightly toast over indirect heat.
• Assemble burgers as follows: pita bottom, lettuce, burger topped generously with tzatziki, a slice of grilled eggplant, and the top of the pita.

CLASSIC GREEK SALAD TOPPED WITH GRILLED CALAMARI SKEWERS

Steps:

• Soak 20 wooden skewers in water for about 20 minutes. Rinse the calamari tubes and pat dry. Split the bodies from top to bottom so you have 2 triangular pieces. Thread a soaked skewer through the length of each piece. Put the skewers on a platter and set aside. To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the oil, vinegar, garlic, dried and fresh oregano, thyme and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Pour 1/2 of the vinaigrette over the calamari; set the other 1/2 aside while you make the salad.
• In a large bowl, add the tomatoes, onion, cucumber, cheese, olives, and romaine. Pour the remaining vinaigrette over the salad and toss to combine. Let marinate while you grill the calamari.
• Heat the grill or a grill pan and oil it lightly. Grill the calamari for 2 minutes on each side, no longer or they will be tough. To serve, put the salad onto a large platter and top it with the calamari skewers. Garnish with fresh oregano leaves and lemon wedges.