Lamb Greek salad burger

Hamburger patty recipe

You can use a gourmet bun and pile on the toppings, but the key to a great-tasting burger is getting the hero ingredient right. For most burgers, that means making sure you have a quality patty in the centre of your burger. If you’re short on time it’s fine to pick up ready made patties from the meat department, but homemade hamburger patties are easy and you can add whatever flavours you like to the mince mixture.

What makes the best hamburger patties

To put together your own burger patties, start with a pack of 100% Aussie mince from Coles. In this recipe we’ve swapped beef mince for lamb mince as a twist on the classic Aussie burger. You can make delicious patties with plain mince, but here’s how to beef them up with different ingredients. Start by adding a lightly whisked egg and some dried breadcrumbs to help bind the mixture together into patties. To boost the flavour and texture of your burger, add grated cheese to the mix - we’ve used haloumi for a Mediterranean flavour, but other cheeses that are great for adding to patties include cheddar, parmesan, ricotta and fetta. Hamburger seasoning is essential, so make sure you add enough salt and pepper to the mixture, depending on how much salty cheese you’re including in the mix. Fresh or dried herbs and ground spices are also great for seasoning your burger. For a Mexican twist, try adding different spices to the mince mixture, such as ground cumin and Mexican chilli powder. It’s best to use your hands to mix all of the ingredients to make sure they’re well combined.

How to make hamburger patties

Now you have your mince mixture, here’s how to turn it into top-quality patties. Start by dividing the mixture into portions, depending on how many people you’re feeding and how thick you want the patties to be. Then shape each portion into a patty that’s wide enough to fit your burger buns - remember, the patties will shrink slightly during cooking. Next, put the patties on a plate, cover and chill for at least 30 minutes. This helps the patties firm up so they don’t fall apart during cooking.

How to make a hamburger

When it’s time to cook the patties, fire up the barbecue or chargrill, then cook the patties until just cooked through, turning halfway through. The cooking time varies depending on the thickness of the patties. Rest the cooked patties on a clean plate - this is the key to succulent, juicy burger patties. After resting the meat, it’s time to build your burger. Start with the bun base and spread with dip or sauce, then add your favourite fillings and toppings along with the patties. We’ve gone for a Greek salad inspired twist on the usual lettuce, tomato and onion. Then just pop on the bun top and enjoy.

Now get cooking

Enjoy a tasty twist on the classic hamburger with our Lamb Greek Salad Burger recipe and follow the tips above to make it your way. Looking for healthier hamburger patties? Give them a boost by swapping some of the mince for canned beans or mushroom mince as in our Mexican beef burgers and mushroom beef burgers. Plus, make smart choices in your buns and toppings as in our beef burger with tomato salsa. For more beef recipes, check out our beef recipes collection.