Week 8, Recipe 3: Middle Eastern Lamb Burgers with Roatan Rum Punch

Burger recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray via her mag in August 2007

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• 1 small eggplant, peeled and chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
• Grated peel and juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper
• 1-1/2 pounds ground lamb
• 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley or cilantro
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander (about a palmful)
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin (about 2/3 palmful)
• 1 teaspoon turmeric (about 1/3 palmful)
• 2 pinches ground cinnamon
• 4 crusty rolls, split and lightly toasted
• 4 leaves romaine lettuce

Swap it
Use a warmed pita pocket in place of the toasted roll.

Directions:

1. In a medium nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the eggplant and garlic and cook until tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Transfer to a food processor along with the tahini, lemon peel and lemon juice and puree until smooth. Season the baba ghanoush with salt and pepper. Wipe out the skillet.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the lamb, parsley, coriander, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Form into 4 patties.
3. In the skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon EVOO over medium heat until rippling. Add the burgers and cook, turning once, for 5 minutes each side for medium-rare.
4. Slather each roll top with the baba ghanoush. Set the burgers and lettuce leaves on each roll bottom and cover with the roll tops.
   
   Results: I had a horrid time finding tahini. I have some now but didn't when I made this recipe. The eggplant mix was still good. I won't call it baba ghanoush since I didn't have tahini. The burgers were yummy! I would've liked more of some flavor, though. I used parsley, mint and dill. Should've used more dill I think.
   
   
   
   Roatan Rum Punch recipe from Food'o del Mundo
   Dark rum (we use Bacardi O and/or Bacardi Select)
   Fresh pineapple juice
   Fresh orange juice
   Fresh grapefruit juice
   Any other fresh juices you want to add
   
   Results: I used pineapple nectar, oj & light rum but thought the color wasn't pretty enough so I added grenadine.  DELICIOUS!!