Za’atar lamb burgers with seasoned yogurt
Ingredients
scallions, trimmed, quartered crosswise, and thinly sliced lengthwise
stalks celery, trimmed and peeled lengthwise into curls with a vegetable peeler
Greek yogurt
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
ground lamb
za’atar spice mix, plus more as desired
cloves garlic
jalapeño
Extra-virgin olive oil
Persian cucumbers, peeled, trimmed, and thinly sliced lengthwise
lemon
Directions
Step 1
Place the scallions and celery in a bowl of cold water (they will curl). In a separate small bowl, season the yogurt to taste with salt and pepper and stir to combine.
Step 2
In a large bowl, combine the lamb and za’atar. Grate the garlic into the bowl along with 2 teaspoons jalapeño. Thinly slice any remaining jalapeño and set aside.
Step 3
Season the lamb with salt and pepper, then mix thoroughly with your hands to combine. Form the lamb mixture into 8 patties and place on a plate or clean cutting board.
Step 4
In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high. Sear the patties until browned on the outside and cooked to medium, about 4 minutes per side.
Step 5
Drain the scallions and celery, pat dry, and place in a separate medium bowl. Add the cucumbers and sliced jalapeño. Squeeze about 2 teaspoons lemon juice over the vegetables (or more as needed to coat), then season with salt and pepper.
Step 6
Serve the lamb patties with the yogurt and salad. Sprinkle additional za’atar over the salad and yogurt if desired.
