I started with marinated chuck that I then ground, but the burger wouldn't hold together — too moist. I ended up adding the marinade ingredients (at a fraction of marinade quantities) to already-ground beef and then letting it age for a few hours in the refrigerator. The thinly sliced cucumbers, red onion and tzatziki really enhance the flavors. Serve on a Kaiser roll.
Makes 4 servings
Burger
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons red wine
1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
12 juniper berries, crushed then finely chopped*
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon finely minced fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon finely minced fresh oregano
1 large clove garlic, crushed
Tzatziki Sauce
1 cup Greek-style yogurt**
1 large clove garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Thoroughly mix together all of the burger ingredients, form into patties, wrap separately in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and as long as 24 hours to allow flavors to meld.
Mix together all of the tzatziki ingredients and chill.
Grill burgers over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or cook in a skillet or on a griddle, lightly brushed with oil if it's not non-stick, over medium-high heat for the same amount of time. Serve on a bun with tzatziki sauce, thinly sliced cucumbers, and red onion.
*Juniper berries are the berries from a relative of the juniper shrubs used in landscaping. They have a delicious resinous flavor and can be found at upscale markets. If you can't find them, increase the minced rosemary to 1 1/2 tablespoons.
**Greek yogurt is thicker than most commercial yogurt. If you can't find it, drain regular plain yogurt in a couple of folds of cheesecloth in a sieve over a bowl for 6 hours.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDM3NjYwMjA5MDE1MjA1MzQ1NDk1N2ZmZQ004))