Gotta Geta Kalamata Feta-peno Burger

Pairs well with:

Zinfandel

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

My wife grew up in Houston, Texas and enjoyed the areas unique flavors of Greek and Mexican cuisine.After meeting in Austin, Texas, we began blending some of these local flavors together and came up with this super flavorful burger. Believe me; you have Gotta Geta Kalamata Feta-peño Burger! These succulent combinations of Greek and Mexican flavors take your palate on an adventure that is unique to Texas, but can be appreciated world wide. Serve these burgers at your next party and your friends will be telling everybody they know, “you have Gotta Geta Kalamata Feta-peño Burger!”

Ingredients:

3 РJalape̱os, seeded and diced

1 1/2 cups – Crumbled Feta Cheese

4 tsp – Cavender’s Greek seasoning

1 1/2 cups – Kalamata Olives, pitted and diced

1 cup – Plain Greek style strained yogurt

1 – Cucumber peeled, seeded and shredded

3/4 cup – Extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp – Dill weed

3 cloves – Minced garlic

3 lbs – Ground beef – 85% Lean

1/2 cup – Sliced Greek Peperoncini peppers

6 thin slices – Red Onion

6 leaves – Hearts of Romaine lettuce

6 – pita bread pockets

1 – tomato diced

Instructions:

Preparation and Cooking:

Preparation Time – 40 minutes

Cook Time – 10 minutes

Cucumber Sauce Mixture:

Mix 1 cup of the strained yogurt, shredded cucumbers

2 Tbs of olive oil, dill weed and minced garlic and chill.

Feta Jalapeño Mixture:

Mix 1 1/2 cups of Feta cheese, 3/4 cup of diced Kalamata olives, 2 diced jalapeños, 1tsp of Cavender’s Greek seasoning in a small bowl. Half the mixture for use in burgers and as topping.

Hamburger meat preparation and cooking:

Combine hamburger meat, 3/4 cup of diced Kalamata olives, 1 diced jalapeño, 3 tsp of Cavender’s Greek seasoning and mix well. Divide the meat into 12 quarter pound patties. Place 1/6 of the Feta jalapeño mixture on six of the meat patties. Place the remaining six patties on top of each of the prepared Feta jalapeño patties. Press the edges of each patty to seal and form the final shape of the hamburger patties.

Preheat gas grill to 375-400 degrees. Cook each hamburger patty for approximately five minutes on each side or until done on gas grill.

Top each burger with the remaining Feta jalapeño mixture approximately 1 minute prior to removing the burgers from the grill.

Bun preparation and heating directions:

Lightly brush olive oil on each of the pita pockets. Place the pita pockets on the top rack of the grill to warm during the last minute of cooking the burgers.

Creating the burger:

Open the pita pocket and insert the hamburger patty. Add a slice of red onion to the top of the patty followed by the 1 lettuce leaf. Add 1/6 of the diced tomato and top with 2 tsp of cucumber sauce. Add a few slices of peperoncini peppers to complete the burger. Repeat for this process to complete each of the remaining burgers.