, but I think it must be in the name: ’smashed food’ elicits a giggle. So, with no further pondering, I present a Middle Eastern inspired smash burger: the seasoned beef is cooked in a searing-hot sauté pan with a piece of pita bread on top that smashes the beef-ball into
a flattened, smashed burger. Google a YouTube video to watch the process (“pita smash burger”). data-pin-do=)
Pita Smash Burger by Foodie’s Chef Laura Brennan
Sandwiches Middle Eastern Frying
July 19, 2024
I can’t really explain my fascination with smash burgers, (to wit, my recent ‘Mushroom Smash Burger’ recipe), but I think it must be in the name: ’smashed food’ elicits a giggle. So, with no further pondering, I present a Middle Eastern inspired smash burger: the seasoned beef is cooked in a searing-hot sauté pan with a piece of pita bread on top that smashes the beef-ball into
a flattened, smashed burger. Google a YouTube video to watch the process (“pita smash burger”).
Ingredients
1-pound ground beef
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots or onions
½ teaspoon mashed garlic
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon of fresh-ground black pepper
4-6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
4-pieces of 5- or 6-inch pita rounds
5-6 ounces Halloumi cheese, grated on the large-hole side of a box grater
½ pint prepared hummus, divided
1 cup prepared tabouli, divided
2 ripe beefsteak tomatoes (8-total slices)
sliced dill pickles
Directions
Preheat oven to ‘warm’/200 degrees F.
In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, chopped parsley, chopped shallots (or onions), garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper. Combine well and divide the mixture into 4 equal portions. Form these portions into smooth round balls and refrigerate.
Prepare the fixins’. Grate the Halloumi cheese on the largest holes of a box grater. Set aside. Wash and dry the tomatoes. Remove the core with the tip of a sharp paring knife. Cut the tomatoes into ½ -inch slices. Set aside. Make sure the pita rounds are at room temperature.
Cook the burgers. Remove the pre-formed burgers from the refrigerator. I used a cast-iron pan. Briefly heat the empty pan over medium-low heat. When the pan is warmed, increase the heat just a little bit. Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to the bottom of the pan. When the oil is ‘shimmering’ (NOT SMOKING), place a ball of meat in the center of the pan and immediately cover the beef with one piece of pita bread and begin pressing down firmly. The ball of chilled, seasoned meat will spread, flatten and cook quickly. It will only take 1-2 minutes to sear, cook and crisp the burger completely. Use a spatula and lift the burger out and place, burger-side up on a sheet pan. Sprinkle the burger with some grated Halloumi cheese and put the sheet pan in the oven. Continue cooking
the rest of the burgers. Wipe out the pan each time you cook a burger. Be careful, the pan will be hot. Use a thick wad of paper towels to protect your hands. Repeat the process of heating the pan and heating the oil to a ‘shimmer’ to cook the rest of the
burgers. Be sure to add some grated Halloumi cheese to the top of each cooked burger and pop it in the heated oven to keep warm (and melt the cheese).
Final Assembly.Remove the sheet pan from the oven to a heat-proof surface. Layer the hummus, tabouli and sliced tomatoes among the burgers, Add the sliced dill pickles to finish – the pickles will add a piquant note and a bite of ‘crunch’. Carefully fold your ‘smash burger’ in half and serve immediately. And it will be a bit messy, but delicious.
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
