Zorba the burger

Serves 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Resting time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes 

Ingredients
500g lamb mince
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp oregano
1 large (or 2 medium) tomatoes, sliced
4 slices of halloumi
4 panini rolls

For the tzatziki
150g Greek yoghurt
½ cucumber, halved lengthways, deseeded and cubed
1 small garlic clove, minced
juice of ½ lemon
2 tbsps fresh mint, very finely chopped

For the olive tapenade
170g kalamata olives, very finely chopped
½ red onion, very finely chopped
½ tbsp of olive oil
Black pepper

Method
Put the mince, herbs and spices into a bowl and mix well to combine.  Divide the mixture into 4 equal pieces of roughly 125g and shape into an long sausage and then squash down to flatten. Put into into the fridge to firm up while you carry on.

For the tzatziki. Mix all the ingredients together and season with salt.  Cover and place in the fridge until you are ready to eat.

For the tapenade, mix everything together and put to one side.

If you are cooking your burgers outside over fire, wait for the flames to die down and the coals to turn white hot. Cook the burgers over direct heat for 3 minutes per side, making sure you season just before you turn. Turn twice. After your first turn, put on the halloumi slices to caramelise.

If you are cooking inside, put your oven on to 180c and put a greaseproof lined lipped baking tray into the oven. It depends on how big your pan is to how many patties you can cook at one time, you don’t want to over fill as the burgers do need space to caramelise.  You can either cook in 1 pan if big enough, in 2 pans at the same time or, cook in batches.

To cook, take a frying pan and put in a tbsp oil, when hot put in the patties and push down with your spatula.  Cook on a medium heat for 3-5 minutes until they are brown and turn, cook again for 3-5 minutes and turn again for a final 3 minutes.  Your burger should now be cooked perfectly but if it is not, just carefully cook a little longer.

Turn off the oven and put the burgers in to keep warm while you cook your halloumi. Cook the halloumi in the burger pan for a minute or so per side until golden.

Toast your buns.  On the bottom half of your bun add a few tbsps of tzatziki and top with the burger and the halloumi.  Put the fresh tomatoes over the top and then place a few tbsps of the olives.  Put on the lid of the bun.