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Chicken or Turkey Spanakopita Burgers and Fries with Yogurt Dip

Ingredients

  • 1 package store-bought frozen french fries, any variety

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), plus some for drizzling

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 3 cloves garlic, 2 chopped, 1 crushed

  • 1 red onion, 1/2 chopped, 1/2 thinly sliced

  • 1 box frozen spinach (10 ounces), defrosted

  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano, lightly crushed in the palm, divided

  • 1/4 pound feta crumbles

  • 1 1/3 pounds ground chicken or ground turkey breast (the average size of package)

  • 1 tablespoon grill seasoning, such as McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning

  • 1/3 English (seedless) cucumber, thinly sliced lengthwise, plus 1 small, 2-inch piece of cucumber, peeled, trimmed and chopped

  • 2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced lengthwise

  • Salt and pepper

  • 1 1/2-2 cups good quality plain yogurt (look for Greek yogurt)

  • 1/2 lemon, juiced

  • 1 cup arugula, coarsely chopped or shredded

  • 4 crusty rolls, split

Topping:

  • 2 roasted red peppers, drained

  • 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley (a generous handful)

  • 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives (about 10-12 olives)

  • Hot pepper rings or pepperoncini (optional)

Directions

Pre-heat oven to directions on the package and bake fries until crisp. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. To one side, add a little EVOO and a tablespoon of butter. When butter melts, add the chopped garlic and chopped red onion and cook for five minutes. Transfer the onions and garlic to a bowl to cool. Return pan to heat.

Wring the defrosted spinach dry buy twisting it in a clean kitchen towel over your sink. Separate the spinach as you add it to the bowl with cool onions and garlic and season with one teaspoon of oregano. Add in feta crumbles, then chicken or turkey, grill seasoning and a drizzle of EVOO. Mix and form into four patties, 1-inch thick. Raise heat on pan to medium-high. Add patties and cook six minutes on each side.

Season the sliced cucumbers and tomatoes with salt and pepper. Toast rolls, if you prefer.

Place remaining chopped cucumber, the crushed clove of garlic, yogurt, one teaspoon oregano and juice of 1/2 lemon in a food processor. Add a little salt and process the sauce until smooth. Transfer to a small dish and serve with the fries as a dipping sauce. Rinse out the processor bowl and return to base.

Place red peppers, parsley and olives in food processor, season with salt and pepper and process until a paste forms. Place cooked burgers on roll bottoms. Top the burgers with sliced cucumber, tomato, reserved red onions, shredded arugula and hot peppers, if using. Slather roll tops with red pepper and olive paste and serve with chips of choice.