Lamb Burgers with Feta Sauce and Spinach

This was the third and last burger of the New Years Eve slider experiment. We had a lot of fun making these together and sitting down and eating them! This lamb burger was just delicious and one we plan to do in a larger version very soon! The feta sauce is so good and the crunch from the walnuts really makes this fun!




Lamb Burgers with Feta Sauce and Spinach

Serving: 4 Burgers

Ingredients

* Handful walnut halves, about 3 to 4 tablespoons
* 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
* 1/3 cup whole milk
* 2/3 cup feta crumbles
* 1 tablespoon freshly chopped marjoram or oregano, or 1 teaspoon dried
* Few sprigs mint, leaves chopped
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
* 1 teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika
* A couple pinches ground cinnamon
* 1 clove garlic, crushed
* 2 bunches farm spinach leaves, stemmed, washed and dried
* Nutmeg, freshly grated
* Ciabatta rolls or sliced crusty bread, toasted

Directions

Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat. Remove to a plate and set aside.

Add 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, half a turn of the pan, and the onions. Cook for 5 minutes to soften, then put them in mixing bowl to cool.

While onions cool, put the milk, feta, half of the marjoram or oregano, mint, salt and pepper, to taste, and the nuts in a food processor and process to a thick, smooth sauce.

Add lamb to the bowl with the onions and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in the remaining marjoram or oregano, paprika and cinnamon. Form the mixture into 4 patties, thinner at the center and thicker at the edges. Heat 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook the patties 3 to 4 minutes on each side for pink centers.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in another skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic clove and let it infuse the oil for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the spinach and let it wilt, then remove the pan from the heat, and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg, to taste.

Add the lamb patties to the bun bottoms or charred bread. Shake off excess liquid as you remove the spinach and pile it on top of the burgers. Slather the bun tops with the feta sauce. Cover the burgers with the bun tops and serve.
Recipe by: Rachael Ray