Summer is the perfect time to make feta stuffed burgers for dinner. In the warm weather we cook on the grill almost every evening and there is always something so satisfying about this juicy Greek-style burger at the end of the day. Sometimes I complete the meal with some of my homemade french fries (link) and it’s amazing!
There are so many ways to make burgers and today I’m going to show you a technique that is decidedly Greek. I begin by infusing the meat with incredible flavors from herbs and spices, and then stuffing it with creamy fresh feta cheese. The feta crumbles are solid when I stuff the burger, but melt into the meat while it cooks on the grill. Then I top the burger with my homemade Greek salsa, which adds delicious fresh flavor and crunch.
The key to cooking the burger is having the grill at high heat before you place the patties on it. You want the meat to cook evenly and have control over the doneness. Have a metal spatula on hand to flip the patties halfway through cooking so they are evenly cooked on both sides. Then, slide the hot burgers onto the buns, add the toppings and serve right away. At this point the feta inside is warm and completely melted, which is truly the best.
These burgers were always very popular at our Greek restaurant and I know you’ll like making them at home. They are great for summer and really fun to serve when you want a fun twist on burger night. I hope you love them as much as we do!
FETA STUFFED BURGER
Grilled hamburgers are a summertime classic. We give ours a Mediterranean twist by adding lots of delicious flavors like oregano and mint and stuffing the whole burger with fresh feta. I recommend serving this with our Greek fries, it makes an amazing meal. If you are preparing these for a crowd you can easily form the burger patties in advance and keep them in the fridge until you are ready to grill them.
Makes 6- 8 burgers
2.5 pounds of ground beef
1 egg
1 large red onion, finely chopped
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tbsp dried oregano
¼ cup chopped mint
1 1/2 tsp. coarse sea salt
1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1 cup fresh feta, crumbled small enough that it can be stuffed in the burger
For the burger topping:
Tzatziki sauce
Greek Salsa: Chopped tomato, cucumber, red onion and parsley
Warm a grill to high heat.
Add ½ cup of water to the panko breadcrumbs and stir until the breadcrumbs are fully soaked.
Add the beef to a large bowl and make a well in the middle.
Place the egg, onion, soaked breadcrumbs, oregano, mint, salt, and pepper. Use clean hands to mix the ingredients all together until they are completely incorporated.
Form the beef into 6 even sized balls, about 6-ounces each. I like to make sure the burgers are smaller than the buns we are using so I always keep that in mind.
Stuff the burgers with the feta by holding it each ball in one hand and using your finger to make a deep hole into the center and stuff about 1 teaspoon of feta inside and pinch it closed. Then place the ball on a flat surface and press it down to form the hamburger patty.
Place the burgers on the grill and cook for about 7-8 minutes on each side, or until you’ve reach the desired doneness and the feta is melted in the middle.
To serve the burger: Place a large dollop of tzatziki sauce on the bottom of a burger bun, place the burger on top, add the salsa on top of the burger, close it all with the top of the bun. Serve!
Nikki Glekas is the owner of Nikki Glekas Events, a full-service catering and events company located in Stamford, CT. She is currently operating with COVID-safe procedures and is happy to discuss your event and catering needs with you. To discuss further please contact team@nikkiglekasevents.com or call 203.658.8659.
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