Air-Fried Lamb Burgers: Quick, Easy, Delicious

Lamb burgers are a delicious alternative to traditional beef burgers, offering a distinct taste that's different from other meats. And if you're looking for a convenient and healthy way to cook them, an air fryer is an excellent option. Air fryers are known for their efficiency, ability to produce a crispy texture, and reduced oil usage, making them perfect for cooking juicy and flavorful lamb burgers. With precise temperature control, you can achieve consistent results and say goodbye to undercooked or overcooked burgers. So, if you're craving a tasty lamb burger that's tender on the inside and seared to perfection on the outside, get ready to fire up your air fryer!

Greek Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce

To make the Greek Lamb Burgers, you'll need ground lamb, oregano, crumbled feta cheese, pepper, salt, and olive oil. Mix the ground lamb with oregano, feta cheese, and pepper in a medium bowl. Form the mixture into four 6-ounce patties, making sure they are of even thickness. Sprinkle the outsides of the patties with salt and pepper, and create a dimple in the centre of each patty to ensure even cooking and prevent doming.

Preheat your air fryer to 360°F or 400°F, depending on its settings. Spray the basket with olive oil to prevent sticking. Place the burgers in a single layer in the basket, cooking in batches if necessary. Cook for 8-10 minutes on each side, flipping at the 10-minute mark, until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Remove the burgers from the air fryer and let them rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to settle.

While the burgers are resting, toast your buns on a grill or in a toaster. You can use any type of bun you prefer, such as brioche or whole wheat. For an authentic Greek flavour, consider using pita bread instead.

Now, let's make the Tzatziki Sauce. To make the sauce, you'll need Greek yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, dill, chives, mint, vinegar, and salt. Start by slicing and salting the cucumbers, then place them in a sieve over a bowl to drain for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. If you're short on time, 10 minutes of salting and squeezing the cucumbers in a clean tea towel will do the trick. Once drained, mix the cucumbers with the yogurt, herbs, vinegar, and garlic. You can make this sauce up to 3 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator.

Assemble your Greek Lamb Burgers by placing the patties on the buns and topping them with 2 tablespoons of Tzatziki Sauce. Serve with a side of lettuce leaves and tomato slices, or get creative with other Greek-inspired toppings like feta cheese, red onions, and olives. Enjoy the flavours of Greece in the comfort of your own home!

Health Benefits of Air Frying Lamb Burgers

Air fryers are a fantastic appliance for cooking lamb burgers. They are a healthier option than traditional methods, and come with a multitude of health benefits.

Firstly, air fryers require significantly less oil than traditional methods such as pan-frying or grilling. This means that air-fried lamb burgers contain fewer calories and less fat, without sacrificing any flavour. The reduced oil usage also results in a reduced amount of unhealthy grease and fat splatter, creating a cleaner and less hazardous cooking environment.

Air-frying lamb burgers is also a great way to get your nutrients. The cooking method retains more of the natural vitamins, minerals and other nutrients found in the burgers, making the meal more nutritious overall. Air-frying can also reduce the number of carcinogens (cancer-causing compounds) released during the cooking process by up to 75%. This is due to a combination of reduced exposure to direct heat and a reduction in splattering oil.

In addition, air fryers are efficient, cooking lamb burgers quickly and evenly, resulting in a crispy exterior and a juicy interior in a fraction of the time it takes to grill or pan-fry. The precise temperature control of an air fryer also ensures consistent results, with each burger cooked to perfection.

Air fryers are also versatile appliances that can cook a wide range of dishes, making them a great addition to your kitchen. They are compact and convenient, especially for small kitchens or areas with limited outdoor space, as they eliminate the need for an outdoor grill or stovetop.

How to Form the Lamb Burgers

Lamb burgers are a delicious alternative to the standard beef patty, offering a distinct taste and a range of health benefits. Air fryers are an excellent way to cook lamb burgers, ensuring a juicy, tender patty with a delectable sear. Here is a step-by-step guide to forming and cooking mouthwatering lamb burgers in an air fryer.

Firstly, gather your ingredients. For lamb burgers, you will need ground lamb, which can be found near the beef section in most grocery stores. In addition to the lamb, you can include various mix-ins such as feta cheese, garlic, mint, paprika, and oregano. Fresh or dried herbs and spices can be added to suit your taste preferences and create unique flavour combinations. For instance, you could make Mediterranean-style lamb burgers with feta and dill or experiment with North African or Latin flavours. If you want to make a Greek-style lamb burger, you can mix in some oregano, feta cheese, and pepper.

Once you have gathered your ingredients, it is time to mix and form your patties. Place all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix well with your hands or a fork until the lamb mince is evenly coated in the herbs and spices. Be sure to mix gently and thoroughly to avoid overworking the meat and to ensure an even distribution of flavours. You can form the patties by hand, shaping them into uniform sizes, or use a burger press to create a consistent shape and size. Aim for a thickness of around 1 inch (2.5 cm) for the best texture and cooking results. Form the mixture into patties roughly 4 to 6 ounces each, depending on your preference for patty size. For a Greek-style lamb burger, form the mixture into four 6-ounce patties of uniform thickness.

After forming the patties, it is essential to season the outsides with salt and pepper to enhance the flavour. At this stage, you can also add other seasonings or dry rubs to the exterior of the patties if desired. If your mixture seems too dry, you can add a wet ingredient like harissa paste or garlic puree to help bind the patties together. Some recipes may also call for an egg and breadcrumbs, but these are not necessary, especially if you are aiming for a low-carb option.

Now your lamb burgers are ready for the air fryer! You can spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or another cooking spray to prevent sticking, although this is not mandatory. Place the patties in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they have enough space to cook evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the burgers in batches. Set the air fryer temperature to between 360°F and 400°F, and cook the lamb burgers for around 15 to 18 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F. If using an air fryer basket that allows grease to drip off, there is no need to flip the burgers during cooking.

Sides and Desserts to Accompany Lamb Burgers

Lamb burgers can be cooked in an air fryer, and while they are cooking, you can prepare some delicious sides and desserts to go with them.

For a traditional pairing, serve your lamb burgers with a side of neeps and tatties (turnips and potatoes) and a glass of single malt to mark Burns Day. If you're looking for something lighter and healthier, a Greek salad is a good option, as it is light and healthy, making it the perfect match for a heavy lamb burger. If you want to stick to the Greek theme, you could also try folding your lamb burgers into pocketless pita breads with toppings and serving tzatziki sauce on the side.

If you're looking for something more substantial, grilled sweet potatoes, sumac onions, and garlic feta fries would make a great plate of sides. You could also try potato wedges, which are a classic side to any BBQ burger. For a healthier option, a quinoa and beetroot salad or a watermelon and tomato salad with a gingery tamari-lime dressing would be a good choice.

For dessert, a brown sugar peach cake would be a great choice, or, for something more tropical, a coconut sheet cake.

Toppings and Sauces for Lamb Burgers

Lamb burgers can be topped with a variety of ingredients, ranging from fresh herbs and vegetables to cheeses and sauces. Here are some ideas for toppings and sauces to elevate your lamb burgers:

Toppings

• Lettuce or arugula
• Tomato
• Red onion
• Roasted bell peppers
• Bacon
• Feta cheese
• Blue cheese
• Caramelized onions
• Fresh herbs such as rosemary and thyme

Sauces

• Mayonnaise or a mix of mayonnaise and mustard
• Tzatziki sauce
• Mint sauce
• Raspberry mint sauce
• A mix of mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, paprika, mint, parsley, and dill

You can also get creative and experiment with different combinations of herbs, spices, and mix-ins to create unique and flavorful sauces for your lamb burgers.

Frequently asked questions