Close-up of a beef patty with red onion rings and a fried egg served open

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Greek Hamburgers (Bifteki)

Name: Greek Hamburgers (Bifteki)
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 medium red onion, grated (3/4 cup grated); 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 1/2 cups soft bread crumbs (from 2 slices white sandwich bread)*; 1/3 cup whole milk; 2 eggs, lightly beaten; 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley; 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar; 1 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano; 1 teaspoon dried mint; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 2 pounds 90% lean ground beef; Lemon wedges

A take on the Greek Burger · Jackson Hole Burgers →A take on the Za’atar Smash · Holy Burger →

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About

Bifteki are Greek beef patties, often served without a bun alongside potatoes or a salad, and this recipe makes them in the oven rather than on a grill. They are softer and more delicately seasoned than an American burger, closer in texture to a meatball.

The tenderness comes from a panade: fresh breadcrumbs soaked in whole milk, mixed with eggs, parsley, a spoonful of red wine vinegar, dried oregano and dried mint. A grated red onion is softened in olive oil with garlic and cooled before going in, so it adds sweetness without raw bite. Two pounds of 90 per cent lean beef are mixed in only until combined and shaped into twelve patties three quarters of an inch thick. They bake at 350°F for about twenty minutes, to 160°F in the centre. Serve them warm with lemon wedges, Greek-style potatoes or a Greek salad.

Ingredients

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Olive oil1 tablespoon olive oil
Red onion1 medium red onion, grated (3/4 cup grated)
Garlic3 cloves garlic, minced
Breadcrumbs1 1/2 cups soft bread crumbs (from 2 slices white sandwich bread)*
Milk1/3 cup whole milk
Egg2 eggs, lightly beaten
Parsley1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
White vinegar1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt1 1/2 teaspoon salt
Oregano1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
Mint1 teaspoon dried mint
Black pepper1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Ground beef2 pounds 90% lean ground beef
LemonLemon wedges

Recipe

1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender and starting to brown, 3 minutes.
2
Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Remove from skillet and let cool for 5 minutes.
3
Combine bread crumbs and milk in a large bowl. Add eggs, parsley, vinegar, salt, oregano, mint, and pepper; stir to combine.
4
Add cooled onion mixture and ground beef. Mix just until combined. Do not overmix.
5
Shape into 12 (3/4-inch-thick) patties and arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
6
Bake in the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a patty registers 160 degrees F (71 degrees C), about 20 minutes.
7
Serve warm with lemon wedges and Greek style potatoes or an easy Greek salad.