Inspiration: I have so many recipes saved all over the place that I don’t think that I’ll ever get to making all of them. I have a Google doc that’s packed full of online recipes that I’ve saved, my Google Reader is full of starred recipes, my cookbooks are covered with post-its, and I have a big old pile of recipes that I’ve torn from magazines clipped together in my pantry next to my recipe box (which is also full of recipes that I still need to try). In an effort to reduce some paper clutter, I decided to start plowing my way through the magazine recipes. That way, if I like one, I can post it up onto the blog and throw away the paper copy. Let’s see if I can stick to it.

What We Loved: This was one of the most interesting burgers that we’ve ever had. We tend to make burgers that are on the richer side (see our favorite avocado burgers, for example, or these bacon burgers), but this burger was in the complete opposite direction. The Greek yogurt and cucumber relish toppings were light, crisp, and refreshing – and they were such a unique complement to the charcoal grilled burger with its smoky, hickory flavor. It really was a different experience for us to take something that we have always experienced as a rich meal and turn it into something much lighter. And we absolutely adored the Greek yogurt as a burger topping. It was such a cooling, creamy addition that seeped down into the burger and was quite an excellent replacement for any type of cheese. I have to confess that I still prefer my rich and cheesy burgers more than any other, but these are a pretty nice option for something that’s a little bit different.

Tips: Make sure to taste test the relish as you prepare it. I thought it was much too bland at first, until I added enough lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. A little bit extra of those items makes a huge difference in the overall flavor.

Spiced Burgers with Greek Yogurt and Cucumber Relish
Source: Adapted from Women’s Day Magazine, March 2012
Serves: 2

About 3/4 lb ground beef
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Kosher salt and black pepper
1/3 small cucumber, seeded and finely diced
1 thin slice red onion, finely diced
Handful fresh mint, minced
Extra virgin olive oil
Juice from 1/2 lemon
About 4 oz Greek yogurt

1. Mix the ground beef with the cumin, oregano, cinanmon, and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Form into two burgers.

2. To prepare the relish, mix the cucumber, red onion, and mint in a bowl. Add a good drizzle of olive oil, the juice from 1/4 lemon, and a nice sprinkle of salt and pepper. Chill until ready to serve.

3. Grill or saute your burgers until cooked through (we used a charcoal grill with hickory smoking chips), about 4-5 minutes per side.

4. Serve the burgers topped with a good dollop of Greek yogurt and some of the cucumber relish. Squeeze the lemon juice from the other 1/4 lemon atop the burgers before serving.