Lamb Burgers with Cilantro-Yogurt Sauce

Name: Lamb Burgers with Cilantro-Yogurt Sauce
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 4 jalapeños, seeded and minced; 2 cups cilantro leaves; 2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 small red onion, 1/2 minced and 1/2 thinly sliced; Kosher salt; 2 1/2 pounds ground lamb; 6 medium scallions, minced; 1/2 cup minced mint leaves; 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese; 1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest; Freshly ground pepper; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 medium tomato, thinly sliced; 1 small cucumber—peeled, halved, seeded and thinly sliced; 3/4 cup plain yogurt; 6 hard rolls, split and lightly toasted

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This spicy burger, served with a cooling yogurt sauce, is Suvir Saran's take on lamb vindaloo, the classic Indian dish. His new Manhattan restaurant is Devi. Slideshow: 10 Favorite Burger Recipes

By Suvir Saran

Updated on August 16, 2018

Lamb Burgers with Cilantro-Yogurt Sauce — Photo: © Tina Rupp

Total Time:

45 mins

Yield:

6

Ingredients

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
4 jalapeños, seeded and minced
2 cups cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon sugar
1 small red onion, 1/2 minced and 1/2 thinly sliced
Kosher salt
2 1/2 pounds ground lamb
6 medium scallions, minced
1/2 cup minced mint leaves
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
Freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 medium tomato, thinly sliced
1 small cucumber—peeled, halved, seeded and thinly sliced
3/4 cup plain yogurt
6 hard rolls, split and lightly toasted

Directions

In a food processor, combine 3 tablespoons of the lemon juice with half of the minced jalapeños, the cilantro leaves, ginger, sugar, minced onion and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Process until pureed. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate.
Light a grill. In a large bowl, combine the ground lamb with the remaining minced jalapeños, the scallions, mint, cheese, lemon zest and 2 teaspoons of the lemon juice. Add 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper and the cayenne and mix gently with your hands. Pat the meat into 6 burgers.
In a medium bowl, toss the tomato, cucumber and sliced onion with the remaining 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Grill the burgers over a hot fire until nicely charred on the outside and pink within, about 4 minutes per side. Fold the yogurt into the cilantro puree. Spread some of the yogurt sauce on the bottom half of each roll; top each with a burger, another dollop of yogurt sauce and some of the tomato-cucumber salad. Close the sandwiches and serve.