Greek style double lamb burger

Pairs well with:

Zinfandel

Bright and full-bodied, this Zinfandel wine is a curious contradiction in tastes.

This dish is inspired by the English mixed grill and the traditional Greek American gyro as if the got married and had offspring.It is juicy, flavorful loaded with meat and vegetables, contrasting textures and surprisingly harmonious flavors.

Ingredients:

1/2 English cucumber, peeled seeded and shredded

1 garlic clove chopped

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 cup Greek style yogurt

2 Tablespoons of Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of mint, chopped

12 slices of uncured Bacon

3 lamb kidneys split

1 cup of whole milk

1/4 cup of vegetable oil

6 slices of eggplant 1/2 inch thick(rounds)

1 teaspoon of kosher salt

1 large green tomato sliced into 6 1/4 inch slices

3/4 cup of self rising flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 large button mushrooms sliced

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 tablespoons of unsalted butter

4 tablespoons of Greek olive oil

1 garlic clove chopped

2 tablespoons of English Mustard

2 lbs of ground lamb shoulder

2 tablespoons of Greek olive oil

1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

6 Tablespoons of unsalted butter softened

6 Kaiser rolls split

6

1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

First make Tadzhiki sauce.Combine cucumber, garlic, salt, pepper,yogurt, olive oil, and mint in small bowl. Mix well until oil is incorporated. Set aside. Next fry bacon in cast iron skillet until crisp about 10 minutes. While the bacon is frying soak kidneys in milk. Salt eggplant and let drain over colander. Combine flour with salt and pepper in paper bag. Divide ground lamb into 6 1/3 pound patties. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels.Add vegetable oil to bacon fat. Add Green tomato slices to paper bag and shake to coat. When the oil and bacon fat is hot cook green tomato slices until golden brown about 3 minutes per side. Remove and keep warm. Saute mushrooms in fat about 2 minutes per side. Season remove from pan and season with salt and pepper remove and keep warm. Melt butter with olive oil and garlic in small sauce pan. Remove kidney from milk and spread with English mustard. Brush with olive oil and butter and season with salt and pepper. Grill the kidneys over hot grill about 3 minutes per side. Set aside and keep warm. Brush eggplant with olive oil. Grill over hot gill about 2 minutes per side. Remove and keep warm. Season lamb patties with salt and pepper and grill till medium rare about 3 minutes per side. Toast Kaiser rolls about 1 minute until golden brown over hot grill. Butter rolls. Spread Tadzhiki sauce on both sides of buns about 1 tablespoon per burger.Crown with lamb burger. Top with eggplant slice, fried green tomato slice, lamb kidney, mushrooms and bacon.