Everybody knows that summer is grilling season.
In my house, I am not the griller. I'm the one shaping the burger patties, marinating the chicken, and assembling all of the sides. I have a small arsenal of seasonings I like to use for burgers and other grilled meats, but this summer, I'm trying to expand that.
My curiosity was peaked when we recently took a weekend trip to Atlantic City. I'm a huge Hard Rock Cafe fan, and I love collecting hurricane glasses for the bar in our entertainment room at home. While we were there, the company was promoting a burger menu inspired by different cultural cuisines. It really spoke to me as someone who loves grilling, but wants to spice up their menu with some different flavors from around the world.
So, naturally, I started doing some research.
My first experiment is this Greek-inspired patty called Biftekia. To me, it seems very reminiscent of a traditional meatloaf recipe, formed into individual patties. I cooked these "plain" first, to make them as traditional as possible. Then, I tried them with a slice of feta warmed over the top, similar to the way you would melt a slice of american cheese over a typical hamburger patty. The feta added a lot of flavor and made this feel way more "Greek". These would probably be really good with the feta stuffed inside the patty, too!
After making traditional Biftekia, I wanted to make a Greek-inspired burger. I took the flavors of Greece and put them on a traditional Biftekia patty and slapped it all between two toasted hamburger buns.
If you're like me, and you've never been to Greece, this burger will make you long for a Mediterranean getaway!
If you're like me, and you've never been to Greece, this burger will make you long for a Mediterranean getaway!
Biftekia
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 tbsp. minced garlic
1 lb. ground beef
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 egg
2 tbsp. parsley
1 tsp. dried oregano
Suggested Toppings:
Hamburger rolls
Slices of Feta cheese
Lettuce or arugula
Tomato slices
Cucumber slices
Diced kalamata olives
Tzatziki
Saute onions in olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat until fragrant and translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Remove from heat.
Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl.
Form 4-6 equal-sized patties from the meat mixture.
Cook over a grill until well-done. These should not be pink in the center.
Top with a slice of feta while grilling to let it melt if desired. Toast hamburger buns on grill by placing them cut-side-down on grill and letting this brown slightly before removing from heat.
Place Biftekia patty between two hamburger buns. Garnish with toppings of your choice.
Place Biftekia patty between two hamburger buns. Garnish with toppings of your choice.