Burgers

These showstopping lamb burgers have salty and briny capers studded throughout them, and get some earthy notes from cumin. The accompanying feta-yogurt spread is the perfect match: It's creamy and salty, but also has freshness from mint and a hint of warmth from ground nutmeg. Spreading it on both the top and bottom brioche buns envelopes the burgers from both sides and helps hold the burger, red onion, arugula, and cucumber together. If you'd like, serve the burgers with sweet potato fries to round out the meal.

These salmon burgers make a great, quick summer meal, but can also be enjoyed all year-round. The patties get herbal, bright, and briny flavors thanks to several mix-ins: fresh dill, lemon zest, capers, and Dijon mustard. The accompanying aïoli mirrors the burger's flavors with the inclusion of lemon juice and the remaining mustard and dill, plus parsley and basil for an extra herby boost. When making the patties, it's important to cut the salmon into small cubes, mince the shallot, and chop the capers before adding them to the food processor. This will help the patty mixture come together more quickly and help avoid overmixing, which would result in a gummy texture. The finished burgers are served on toasted brioche buns with the aïoli and some fresh arugula to balance the richness of the salmon and the buns.

These vegetarian burgers feature halloumi, a tangy, salty cheese from Cyprus that holds its shape when heated, making it ideal for the grill. When grilled or sautéed, halloumi develops a charred crust that yields to soft cheese inside. Here, we cut the halloumi across the equator for the centerpiece of the burger, and season it with cumin, salt, and pepper. It's then topped with a citrusy olive tapenade with just enough crushed red pepper flakes to lend it a touch of heat. A lemony aïoli complements the citrus in the tapenade and natural tang of the halloumi. The roasted red peppers round out this burger; be sure to blot them dry before using so they don't slip out of the bun when you take a bite. Try to seek out brioche buns for these burgers; their slightly sweet flavor works perfectly here.

It's no secret why this burger is the signature dish for Paolo Dungca and Tom Cunanan at Pogiboy in Washington, D.C. Who doesn't want a purple burger bun?! Enjoy the balance of richness from the pork and the acidic crunch from the achara, plus a creamy secret sauce that brings it all home. Each layer of this show-stopping burger is delicious on its own, but combined, they come together as one to create a craveable bite with just enough sweet to balance the savory.

Salty, buttery, and slightly sharp, Comté cheese crisps similarly to Parmesan, adding an irresistibly crunchy frico layer to these cheeseburgers. For best results, don't flip the buns straight out of the oven; letting them cool keeps the cheese crispy at the edges and soft in the center. Sommelier and Wine Director Carlos Solorzano-Smith of Matsuhisa in Aspen, Colorado, suggests pairing this burger with a bottle of Bordeaux for a next-level experience: "The rich flavor of cheeseburgers goes great with a medium to full-bodied Bordeaux, thanks to their tannins and aromas of black fruits," he says.

Seven vegetables and grains fill our ultimate veggie burger with texture, color, and flavor.