Australian Lamb Burger

Great news! I just found out that I won the casual dining division of the "MAKE AUSTRALIAN LAMB AMERICA'S NEW FAVORITE BURGER" contest! I am heading down to Sydney in September. So exciting!

I am sure there will be many more stories to come, but for now here is the winning recipe. Get out of a boring burger rut and grill up a lamb burger this Memorial Day!



TUNISIAN LAMB BURGERS WITH HARISSA MAYONNAISE AND ORANGE-OLIVE-DATE RELISH

BURGERS:

1 teaspoon whole cumin seed, lightly crushed
1 teaspoon whole coriander seed, lightly crushed
1/4 cup Australian Shiraz
1 Tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 pounds ground Australian lamb
1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Sea salt, to taste (before cooking)

HARISSA MAYONNAISE:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4 Tablespoons Harissa
2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon lemon juice

ORANGE-OLIVE-DATE RELISH:
1 cup chopped Kalamata olives
1/2 cup chopped orange segments
1/3 cup chopped dates
1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro
2 teaspoons olive oil

6 onion hamburger buns
Serve with hot, crispy sweet potato fries

1. For Burgers: In a small, dry pan, toast the cumin and coriander seeds over medium-low heat until they are toasted and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in the Shraz and honey. Bring to a boil over high heat and boil hard for 1 minute; stir in the turmeric and cinnamon. Set aside to cool slightly. Crumble the lamb into a large bowl. Add the red onion, garlic, black pepper, and spice-wine mixture. Knead together lightly, but thoroughly to distribute ingredients. Form into 6 patties, about 6 ounces each. Place on a baking pan, cover with plastic, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or as long as overnight.

2. Meanwhile, prepare the mayonnaise and relish. For mayonnaise, whisk together all mayonnaise ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. For relish, combine all relish ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

3. When ready to cook, heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat until very hot, or build a medium-hot fire in a barbecue grill. Season burgers on both sides with sea salt. Brush a little olive oil on grill pan or outdoor grill. Cook the burgers in the skillet, turning once, for 7-10 minutes for medium-rare; or grill outdoors, if desired. While burgers are cooking, toast the buns in a toaster oven or under the broiler until lightly toasted; or toast them on the outer perimeter of the grill rack outdoors. When the burgers are done, remove to a warm platter and let rest for several minutes while dressing the buns.

4. To build the burgers, place a bottom onion bun on work surface. Spread with some of the harissa mayonnaise, top with red lettuce leaves, burger, some of the relish, then bun top, also spread with some of the mayonnaise. Repeat with remaining burgers. Serve burgers with sweet potato fries. Makes 6 burgers.