Balkan Lamb Burger with Ajvar Mayonnaise & Bulgarian Salad

Pairs well with:

Cabernet Sauvignon

This rich red easily complements your homemade chicken dishes, red meats, game, and mildly seasoned pastas.

Ingredients:

Ajvar Mayonnaise:
3/4 cup prepared ajvar (an eggplant & pepper relish)
3/4 cup mayonnaise

Bulgarian Salad (Shopska):
2/3 cup tomatoes, diced
2/3 cup English cucumber, diced
2/3 cup onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
6 ounces Bulgarian feta cheese (Sirene), crumbled (if unavailable, substitute regular feta cheese)
1 teaspoon fresh savory leaves, finely chopped (if unavailable, substitute 1/2 teaspoon dried savory)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Patties:
1 2/3 pounds ground chuck
1/4 cup bulghur wheat, soaked in 1/4 cup warm water for 30 minutes
1 1/2 teaspoons hot paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Vegetable oil, for brushing on the grill rack
6 potato buns, split

Instructions:

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.

To make Ajvar Mayonnaise, in a small mixing bowl combine ajvar and mayonnaise; mix until well combined. Refrigerate until serving.

To make Balkan Salad, in a medium mixing bowl combine tomatoes, cucumber, onion, garlic, feta, savory, and olive oil. Mix well to combine.

To make the patties, combine the beef, bulghur wheat, paprika, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form the portions into patties to fit the buns.

Brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once, just until done, about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare. During the last few minutes of cooking, place the buns, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly.

To assemble the burgers, place a generous amount of Ajvar Mayonnaise on the cut sides of the buns. On each bun bottom, place a patty and an equal amount of Bulgarian Salad. Add the bun tops and serve.

Makes 6 burgers.