Minted Lamb Burgers

Ingredients

For the burgers:

• 1 bunch fresh mint leaves, about 1 cup leaves
• 1 cup pitted black olives
• 1/2 red onion, quartered
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
• 6 hamburger buns
• Cucumber-Chile Salad, optional, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the grill to medium.

Add the mint, black olives, red onion and bread crumbs to a food processor. Pulse until well blended. In a large bowl, combine the olive mixture with the meat. Using your hands, mold the meat mixture into 6 burger patties and place on a hot, oiled grill. Grill the burgers for about 7 minutes per side for medium-rare.

Toast the buns on the grill and build the burgers on a toasted bun with a little Cucumber Chile Salad. if desired. Serve.

Chile Cucumber Salad:

• 3 shallots, finely sliced
• 1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, quartered and finely sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed and roughly chopped
• 2 fresno chiles, red jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
• 4 tablespoons rice vinegar
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Add shallots, cucumber, garlic, ginger and chiles to a bowl and follow with rice vinegar. Toss to coat and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Yield: 6 servings