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We've loved discovering London; learning the under and over ground transportation systems, strolling along the Thames, discovering beautiful parks for picnics and fun playgrounds for the children, exploring fascinating museums, shopping (or at least browsing) in the high end department stores, getting lost in all the wonderful history, and of course, for these two avid foodies, uncovering wonderful markets, cafés and restaurants.
One of our favorite places to go for great food is a tiny little shop in the Kensington area of London. From our daughter's home, it's 15 minutes on the tube (the London underground) and then a delightful 10 minute walk, past ancient stone churches, markets overflowing with jewel-hued flowers, and shop after charming shop. A turn onto a narrow cobblestone street finds us at our delicious destination; Ottolenghi. We discovered the shop owned by Yotam Ottolenghi and his partner Sami Tamimi on one of our very first visits to London. I'd never heard of either of them at that time, but they've since become household words here at The Café and in culinary circles all over the world, as they've released one fabulous cookbook after another.
Their specialty is Middle Eastern, both of them hailing from Jerusalem, yet, with totally different ethnic backgrounds, they each bring an amazing array and diversity of flavors, ingredients and personal style to the table. The emphasis is on fresh, seasonal vegetables and they have a way of magically combining them with other unique ingredients yielding beyond delicious results.
I love the fact that, nowadays, I don’t have to go to London to enjoy delicious Ottolenghi creations. I’ve collected all of their cookbooks over the past few years and have bookmarked a zillion wonderful recipes to try.
This time I couldn’t resist the Turkey & Zucchini Burgers w/ Green Onion & Cumin from their latest cookbook, aptly titled Jerusalem. I did adapt the recipe a bit, but I do believe that even Yotam himself would approve of my cha as I added fresh corn, diced red pepper and substituted ground chicken for the turkey. I called my burgers Chicken, Zucchini and Fresh Corn Burgers and served the burgers wrapped in my Homemade Flour Tortillas, spread with a bit of hummus, piled high with Tomato-Cucumber Relish and then drizzled with a simple Greek Yogurt Sauce. It’s super delicious and, if you close your eyes while you eat it, you very well might just picture yourself sitting in a lovely park, right in the heart of London, enjoying takeout from Ottolenghi.
- Ingredients for the Greek yogurt sauce:
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Ingredients for the burgers:
- 1 lb. ground chicken
- 1 medium zucchini coarsely chopped
- 1 ear fresh corn husks and silk removed and kernels cut from cob
- ½ medium red bell pepper finely diced
- 3 green onions thinly sliced
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper about 3-4 tablespoon olive oil for searing
- Ingredients for the Tomato-Cucumber Relish:
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes quartered
- ⅓ medium seedless English cucumber finely diced
- 2 green onions finely sliced
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 clove garlic minced
- zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
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First, make Greek yogurt sauce by mixing all ingredients in small bowl and placing in the fridge.
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Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl combine all burger ingredients except oil. Mix with your hands and form into desired patty sizes.
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Pour enough oil to cover bottom of large frying pan. Heat over medium heat until hot, then sear burgers about 2 minutes per side or until golden brown.
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Carefully transfer the seared burgers to a baking sheet and place in oven 7-10 minutes, or until cooked through.
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While burgers are baking, prepare tomato-cucumber relish by combining all ingredients in a medium size bow. Stir gently to combine.
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I like to serve these burgers with Homemade Flour Tortillas spread with a bit of hummus. They're also delightful served with pita bread, basmati rice, mashed potatoes, pasta, etc.
Marie Costello says
Hi! Ive made these so many times! A family favorite and my husband is a chef so his approval means they are over the top fantastic! I was wondering if you have frozen them before? At what stage would be best? Thank you for your tips!
Chris Scheuer says
Such a great compliment, Marie, to have your chef-husband (lucky you!) approve. I haven't frozen them but I think freezing them after cooking would work well and would be so convenient.
Fran says
Hi! These look and sound great, but I think I'm missing something. It says 3 hour 2 min prep time and 3 hr 2 min cook time. I dont see where all time is taken up. Can you please elaborate? Thanks
Chris Scheuer says
Ha! You're right Fran. I switched to a different recipe plugin a while back and it goofed up all the times for my recipes. I'm going back and correcting them but, with over 1000 recipes the work is slow! I will go ahead and fix this one right now.
Sue says
Can these be grilled?
Chris Scheuer says
I think they could with good results. I would brush them with a little oil before grilling and be sure to oil the grill grates well as ground chicken doesn't have much fat. Let us know your results!
kouky says
Thank you for this delicious recipe, we loved it at home and I prepare it very often.
I followed everything to the letter except that I did not put it in the oven because it had already been cooked on the stove
Tami says
These are the best burgers ever! The sauce is delicious too. I added a bit of coriander to it yummy!
Iuliana says
How long would you say to keep them in the oven at 425 if I skip the frying part?
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Iuliana, I haven't tried this so I think I would just watch them carefully in the oven and perhaps use a instant read thermometer.
Lisa says
These are amazing! Made them and they got all eaten up!
Karina Barba says
Oh My! I think we have a NEW CLASSIC love! I tried the burgers today and my girls just LOVED them!
I really enjoyed the aromatic flavour the cilantro brings to the patties and the corn was a big hit too!! I had just one confession to make, and being mexican I must feel blushed I know! I did not have any cob on hand so I open a trusted brand canned and we made the Cha-Cha-Cha! Ah haaaa!
Chris Scheuer says
Ha ha, as long as they tasted wonderful, that’s all that matters. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
Kind Regards,
Chris
Annie says
Tried this for lunch today, makes a great, healthy, delicious lunch!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Annie, so glad you enjoyed them!
Beatriz Peyrelongue Azpiri says
I love your recipes, they are so eclectic!! and delicious!
I've tryed a few!
Best regards from São Paulo, Brazil!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much Beatriz, I appreciate your kind words!
Laurie says
Made these for dinner...wow what a great taste..lots of veggies. I added cilantro to the yogurt sauce because I live cilantro and it gave it a nice touch. Will definitely make these again!!
Chris Scheuer says
Yeh, so happy you liked them!
Mimi says
Great burgers! They are super healthy and delicious 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, so happy you enjoyed them Mimi!
Josephine says
I cannot get over how good these were. I made a few changes just using things I had on hand like roasted peppers and parsley but they were amazing!! Best chicken burgers I have ever had, so much flavor! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe, I just emailed it to about 20 friends telling them they are a MUST.
Pastry Guru says
can't wait to try this one....looks very delicious...uhmmm, great for supper!!!!
marie, the EpicureanPiranha says
After seeing these, I think I'll just have to buy a few of Ottolenghi's cookbooks! But I will definitely try your version of these (I make something similar, although I don't add corn or panko crumbs but do add fresh Thai or Indian chilies, whichever I have on hand!).
Thanks for sharing!
~ marie, the EpicureanPiranha
Debby Foodiewife says
Why I'm a first time commenter, I don't know. I've been following your blog, ever since Wives with Knives linked to you. The photograph reeled me right in. How wonderful that you can visit the UK so often! This is absolutely beautiful, and I can almost feel the different textures and taste the seasonings. I'm pinning this one, hoping to add this to my recipe bucket list. Beautifully done.
Anonymous says
We have had this delicious meal for dinner. Thank you for sharing! It looked absolute perfect and it tasted gorgeous! Thank you for measuring salt and pepper, I am always to thrifty with salt.
Love all your recipes! Last week we have had your sugar seared salmon with sweet & spicy orange-coconut sauce, outstanding! Greetings from Berlin!
Chris Scheuer says
Oh that makes me happy to hear from you and that your burgers turned out so well. We loved them too and I can't wait to make them again. So nice to meet you and again, Danke Vielmal!! 🙂 I do speak a spattering of German. I studied it in school and spent a summer working in the German-speaking Swiss Alps. I love Germany and have traveled there several different times but never to Berlin. Hopefully one day, I'll make it there!
Vicki Bensinger says
OMG Chris I've missed so many of your wonderful posts. These chicken burgers look fantastic and just the type of burger I prefer to eat. Nice recipe and quite colorful for a chicken burger. Perfect for labor day.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Your take on the famous chefs' recipe sounds wonderful...I do think they would approve. 🙂
- spoonstories- says
Iam going to love this recipe!! I love that kind of burgers^^
Sandra Lee says
Oh my these look out of this world delicious! It's so interesting to hear about your travels and culinary adventures.
Asha Shivakumar says
That cook book is one of my favorites. I love how your burger looks. Yummy.
Wendy says
These look delicious, Chris! We eat ground chicken several times a week and I am always looking for new flavor combinations to try! The burgers, the sauce, the relish, I am excited to try them all. 🙂 Funny how flavors trigger memories. You eat your burger and think of London. I will close my eyes and think of Jerusalem! 🙂
Catherine says
This looks beautiful and delicious and healthy. Blessings dear. Catherine xo
lena says
oh, i'm sure Y.Ottolenghi would definately approves on the little changes you made! Look at that, this just looks so mouth watering!