Middle Eastern Burgers

Submitted by JelsMom

"Not your ordinary burger!"

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1⁄3 cup bulgur
• 1⁄2 cup warm water, plus
• 2 tablespoons warm water, divided
• 1 teaspoon canola oil
• 1⁄2 cup chopped onion (1 small)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1⁄3 cup pitted prune, finely chopped (2 ounces)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 12 ounces lean ground beef
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt (to taste)
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 4 small whole wheat pita bread

directions

1. Preheat grill.
2. Combine bulgur with 1/2 cup warm water in a small bowl; let soak until the bulgur is tender and most of the water has been absorbed, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain any excess liquid.
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring often, until the onion softens, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and prunes; cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Don't let the garlic burn. Stir in cumin, coriander and allspice; cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add remaining 2 tablespoons water; cook until it is absorbed, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat.
4. Combine beef, egg, salt, pepper, the onion-prune mixture and the bulgur in a mixing bowl; mix thoroughly. Shape into four 3/4-inch-thick patties.
5. Lightly oil the grill rack (hold a piece of oil-soaked paper towel with tongs and rub it over the grate). Grill the burgers over medium heat, turning once, until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Warm pitas on the grill, if desired. Serve the burgers with the pitas.

Reviews

[COOKGIRl]

I was lazy and dumped everything in an oiled pie plate and baked for about 40 minutes. Yum! Used the leftover meat combined with leftover roasted turnips and a few red beets in this recipe: Recipe #496349. Thank you! Will make again!