Spring Onion & Herb Lamb Burgers
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Spring Onion & Herb Lamb Burgers

Spring is lazy in the Adirondacks. We have pockets of snow some years as late as June. The one way I can remind myself that spring has in fact sprung is by using seasonal ingredients—even if they're grown somewhere else.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lb. ground lamb

  • 2 spring onions or 4 thin scallions, finely chopped

  • Kosher salt and black pepper

  • ½ cup fresh mint leaves (a fat handful), finely chopped

  • ¼ cup fresh dill sprigs, finely chopped

  • About 2 tbsp. fresh oregano or marjoram leaves, finely chopped

  • About 1 tbsp. plus a drizzle of EVOO

  • About 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (from a bag, not packed in oil)

  • 1 cup walnuts

  • 1 cup crumbled feta (preferably Greek)

  • 1 lemon, juiced (about 1/4 cup)

  • 1 clove garlic, crushed

  • 1 tsp. dried oregano

  • ⅓ to 1/2 cup whole milk

  • 4 brioche rolls, split

  • Little Gem lettuce, lamb’s lettuce (a.k.a. mâche), or baby spring greens, for topping

Preparation

Step 1

In a medium bowl, season the lamb and spring onions with kosher salt and pepper. Mix in the fresh herbs and about 1 tbsp. oil. Form into 4 patties (thinner in the centers for even cooking). Refrigerate for 1 hour 

Step 2

In a small bowl, cover the sun-dried tomatoes with very hot water. Let stand until softened, 10 to 20 minutes. Drain and thinly slice the tomatoes.

Step 3

In a small skillet, toast the walnuts over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and toasted, about 5 minutes. Let stand until cool, about 5 minutes. In a food processor, pulse the nuts just until finely chopped (but not to a paste). Add the feta, half the lemon juice, the garlic, dried oregano, and a drizzle of oil. With the machine running, gradually stream in the milk until a thick sauce forms. Season the feta-walnut sauce. 

Step 4

Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Add the patties. Cook, turning occasionally, for about 6 minutes for pink centers or about 8 minutes for medium-well. Douse the patties with the remaining lemon juice.

Step 5

Place the burgers on the roll bottoms. Top with the sun-dried tomatoes and lettuce. Slather a layer of the feta-walnut sauce on the roll tops and set in place.

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