Mini Grilled Gyro Burgers With Tzatziki and Pickled Peperoncini Recipe

Name: Mini Grilled Gyro Burgers With Tzatziki and Pickled Peperoncini Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 cups Greek yogurt; 1 English cucumber, peeled and grated; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon; 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 medium cloves); 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 1/2 teaspoons finely minced fresh dill; Kosher salt; 1/2 pound freshly ground lamb, well chilled; 1/2 pound freshly ground beef chuck, well chilled; 3 ounces pork fatback or bacon, diced and well chilled; 1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 1 medium clove); 2 teaspoons kosher salt; 1/3 cup finely minced red onion; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Greek; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 9 slider-size potato rolls, split; Pickled pepperoncini, for topping

A gyro-spiced beef-and-lamb mixture is formed into little patties, grilled, and topped with tzatziki and pickled pepperoncini for one tasty sandwich.

Why this recipe works:

A 50/50 mix of ground beef and lamb strikes a nice balance between the flavor of a burger and a gyro.
Adding additional fat or bacon into the meat mixture ensures a juicy patty.
Puréeing the meat mixture in a food processor results in a fine texture that's reminiscent of a standard gryo-loaf.
Tzatziki adds a cooling touch, while pickled peperoncini add heat and tang.

The Key to Turning Gyros Into Burgers: Defy Burger Orthodoxy

Mini Grilled Gyro Burgers With Tzatziki and Pickled Peperoncini Recipe

Prep 10 mins

Cook 10 mins

Active 30 mins

Refrigerating Time 60 mins

Total 80 mins

Serves 3 to 4 servings

Keep Screen Awake

For the Tzatziki:

2 cups Greek yogurt
1 English cucumber, peeled and grated
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice from 1 whole lemon
1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 medium cloves)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons finely minced fresh dill
Kosher salt

For the Burgers:

1/2 pound freshly ground lamb, well chilled
1/2 pound freshly ground beef chuck, well chilled
3 ounces pork fatback or bacon, diced and well chilled
1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 1 medium clove)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/3 cup finely minced red onion
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Greek
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
9 slider-size potato rolls, split
Pickled pepperoncini, for topping

For the Tzatziki: Mix together yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and dill in a medium bowl. Season with salt. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using.
For the Burgers: Place lamb, beef, fatback or bacon, garlic, salt, onion, oregano, and black pepper in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process until smooth puree is formed, about 1 minute total, scraping down side of bowl with rubber spatula as necessary. Form meat mixture into 9 equal-sized patties.
Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over entire surface of coal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Place buns on grill, cut side down, and grill until lightly toasted. Set aside.
Place gyro patties on grill and cook until well seared on both sides and just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Transfer patties to toasted buns, top with a spoonful of tzatziki and a few slices of peperoncini. Serve immediately.

Special Equipment

Food processor, grill

This Recipe Appears In

The Key to Turning Gyros Into Burgers: Defy Burger Orthodoxy

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
805	Calories
40g	Fat
54g	Carbs
57g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories	805
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 40g	52%
Saturated Fat 13g	65%
Cholesterol 132mg	44%
Sodium 1920mg	83%
Total Carbohydrate 54g	20%
Dietary Fiber 6g	20%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 57g
Vitamin C 65mg	325%
Calcium 349mg	27%
Iron 7mg	37%
Potassium 1344mg	29%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.