Lamb Burgers Recipe and Homemade Pita Bread

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Pita bread recipe - Adapted from Classical Turkish Cooking by Ayla Algar

Makes 6 to 8 depending on how big you like your burgers. These would also make excellent sliders!

For the sponge:

• 4 tsp. yeast
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup bread flour

Dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water and let stand for about 10 minutes. Stir in flour and cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot for 30 minutes.

Dough:

• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 cup plus 1 Tbsp. warm water
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• nigella seeds for the tops

Place the next batch of flour into a large bowl. Make a well in the center and then pour the sponge into the center along with the salt, olive oil and extra water. Bring the sticky mass together and then knead on a floured surface until smooth and elastic. Place into an oiled bowl and cover with wrap and let rise in a warm spot for another hour.

At this point you can start making the lamb burger fixings by preparing the sumac onions. Try and slice the red onions as thinly as you can.

To shape your pitas: Remove the puffed mass and cut into equal little balls. Place them on a floured surface and cover with a towel for another 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 550 degrees. You want your pizza stone to get nice a piping hot.

Take one of the balls and slightly flatten with your hand until it forms a nice even circle. Place your 3 fingers at the top of a circle and then moving from left to right move across the circle making slight pounding movements. Go all across and back moving down to the bottom.

Flip the disk counter clockwise and do it again. You should have about a 6 to 8 inch circle. Brush with some of the beaten egg and sprinkle nigella seeds on top. Once you have 2 or 3 place them on to your pizza stone. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes. They will puff as they bake. Remove from the oven and keep warm in a towel until they are all baked and you are ready to eat.

Lamb Burgers

Serves 4 to 6 depending on how big you like your burgers.

I used one of my favorite spice mixtures from Savory Spice called Limos Lamb Spice. You don’t have to use it but it makes them extra yummy.

2 red onions, thinly sliced then sprinkled with 2 Tbsp. sumac. Set aside.

• 2 lbs. ground lamb
• 4 scallions, sliced thinly
• 1/2 cup each freshly chopped parsley and mint
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. cayenne
• 2 Tbsp. Limos Lamb Spice (optional)
• salt and pepper, two large pinches
• Greek yogurt
• lettuce
• tomatoes, if really tasty

Place the ground lamb in a large bowl and add the seasonings and mix together well. Form into patties and let rest in the refrigerator for a 1/2 an hour.

Grill the burgers on medium high for about 6 to 8 minutes a side.

Once cooked, cut your pitas in half, spread some Greek yogurt on one half, a piece of butter leaf lettuce. Place the lamb on top and then garnish with the sumac onions. Top with the other piece of pita and enjoy!

This Lamb Recipe is perfect with our:

All-Natural and Organic Ground Lamb Meat