Middle Eastern Lamb Burgers

Try this Lamb Burger recipe as a Middle Eastern twist on a basic burger. Made with juicy lamb patties, homemade tzatziki, creamy hummus and aromatic za'atar spice, these easy burgers are not only unique but also really delicious! 

Since I realized a few weeks ago that I shared way too little Lebanese recipes with you in the past, I've found myself in a Middle Eastern mood. I want to add hummus and za'atar to most of my food. And if there are tzatziki and banaganoush - even better!

To make matters worse, Solal and I finally discovered the perfect Lebanese restaurant we were looking for in Sydney. If it was up to me, we would go every single week. We went there to eat once and the experience wasn't convincing.

BUT Solal had the brightest idea of getting take out for lunch at work one day and...revelation! Completely different, 10x better. They make the tastiest baba ganoush and their meat is delicious, not too greasy yet not dry.

Anyways! My personal Middle Eastern craze continues with this Middle Eastern lamb burger recipe. Because lamb patties with parsley, mint and cumin + hummus + tzatziki definitely say oriental and I love that.

Can we just pause a second and help a Frenchie out (aka myself)? I'm a little confused about something here. Maybe I shouldn't ask what I'm about to ask on my food blog because I'm supposed to know a thing or two about cooking, right?

Ahem, the truth is...it's a constant learning process and I do learn new things every day. Which is totally awesome if you ask me!

So, the question. Could you guys tell me the difference between a patty and a burger? Because where I'm coming from (hello France!), burgers need to have bread to be called burgers.  Otherwise, it's just meat, lettuce and tomato (or whatever your burger is made of).

However, I've seen lots of "burger" recipes in the Anglo-Saxon world not calling for bread. So, what's up with that?

Is a patty just a way to shape meat? And to become a burger, does the patty needs to be served with something else like lettuce, bread or whatever? Or is it just an American/British English thing? See, I'm confused. Anyone willing to enlighten me: thank you!

These Middle Eastern lamb burgers qualify for both I guess because they're meat patties that you can serve with bread rolls - even though that's totally optional. A big lettuce leaf would be perfect if you're looking for a low-carb lamb burger recipe.

Whatever you call them, these lamb burgers/ lamb patties are delish, that's for sure! They work especially well in combination with a refreshing homemade tzatziki and some creamy nutty hummus!

I also added a sprinkle of za'atar to my lamb burger recipe, as I am addicted to this divine mix of sesame seeds and herbs. If you're having trouble finding it, you can even make it yourself, following my instructions in this hummus wrap recipe.

And I guess now is time to insert a PS: if you don't like lamb, no worries. Just use ground beef and you're good to go!

If you tried this lamb burger recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe below and let me know how it went in the comments – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!

5 from 1 vote

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Middle Eastern Lamb Burgers

Try this Lamb Burger recipe as a Middle Eastern twist on a basic burger. Made with juicy, spiced lamb patties, homemade tzatziki, creamy hummus and aromatic za'atar spice, these easy burgers are not only unique but also really delicious! 

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword bbq, burger, easy, hummus, lamb, Middle Eastern, sauce, simple, summer, tzatziki, unique

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 435 kcal

Ingredients

Burger Patties

• 1 small onion or ½ large, finely chopped
• 1 large garlic clove minced
• 1 lb ground lean lamb 500 g, you can also use lean beef
• ¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley chopped, packed
• 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves chopped
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 egg
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp + ½ tbsp olive oil

Tzatziki

• ¾ cup Greek yogurt
• ½ cup cucumber skin on, cut into small cubes
• 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves chopped
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 pinch salt

Other ingredients

• ¾ cup hummus or less to taste
• 1 tbsp za'atar optional
• 6 lettuce leaves
• 6 bread rolls cut in half and toasted (optional)

Instructions

For the burger patties:

1. Heat one teaspoon olive oil in a large non-stick skillet. Sauté onion and garlic on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes or until soft. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.

2. Transfer onion and garlic to a large mixing bowl. Add ground lamb, parsley, mint, cumin, mustard and egg, and season with salt to taste. 

3. Using your hands combine the ingredients and form 6 2.5/3-inch (about 7 cm) patties

4. Heat ½ tbsp olive oil on high heat in the same skillet. Brown patties, about 1 minute on each side then reduce to medium-low and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until cooked through. You want to cook them gently, so they are browned on the outside and cooked all the way through inside. 

5. Transfer cooked patties to a plate lined with paper towel to drain excess fat.

For the Tzatziki:

1. While patties are cooking, prepare tzatziki. In a medium bowl, combine yogurt, cucumber cubes, mint, lemon and salt. Stir well and set aside.

Assemble:

1. Spread one to two tablespoons hummus at the center of a lettuce leaf. Sprinkle with za'atar if using. Add a patty and top with two tablespoons tzatziki. Place a lettuce leaf on bread roll if using. Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

Nutrition facts without bread 
Cal: 319 - Protein: 20.3g - Fat: 22.8g - Carbs: 8.16g - Fiber: 1.5g - Sugar: 1.4g 
WW Old Points: 8 pts - Points+: 8 pts 

Nutrition Facts

Middle Eastern Lamb Burgers

Amount Per Serving (1 burger (with bun))

Calories 435 Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Fat 24g37%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Cholesterol 83mg28%

Sodium 438mg19%

Potassium 278mg8%

Carbohydrates 30g10%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 23g46%

Vitamin A 2105IU42%

Vitamin C 11.1mg13%

Calcium 156mg16%

Iron 4.9mg27%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.