Mediterranean Cheeseburger Recipe With Parsley Salad

October 14, 2022 at 10:47 am · Filed under Food Fun, International Foods, Meat & Poultry, Recipes

Not a conventional cheeseburger, this Mediterranean Cheeseburger recipe from Butterball Turkey was made with a turkey burger, but you can substitute beef, lamb (yes!), salmon, or a veggieburger.

It makes a cheeseburger with halloumi cheese and tzatziki, Greek yogurt cucumber sauce, plus a side of tabbouleh or parsley salad.

Records date halloumi to Cyprus circa 300 C.E. It has become the ultimate grilling cheese in modern times. It retains its shape, even when cooked at high temperatures, and develops a golden crust when seared (although it can be enjoyed in its uncooked state).

Halloumi (ha-LOO-me) is made from sheep’s milk or a combination of sheep’s and goat’s milks. Two rounds of curd cooking give halloumi a spongy, meaty texture. It is mild, with faint herbal notes in halloumi made with milks from luscious grasslands.

Here’s more about halloumi cheese.

> National Cheeseburger Day is September 18th. May is National Burger Month.

RECIPE #1: MEDITERRANEAN CHEESEBURGER

Ingredients Per Burger

1 burger patty, 5-6 ounces (larger if desired)

1 flat pita bread (substitute a pita pocket), 4–5 inches in diameter

2 tablespoons tzatziki sauce (buy it or make this recipe)

4 slices grilled vegetables: bell pepper, cherry tomatoes (2 halves), mushrooms, onions

3 strips roasted red pepper (pimento)

1 slice grilled halloumi or yanni cheese

½ cup parsley salad (recipe below) or tabbouleh

Optional side: Kalamata or Niçoise olives (ideally with snipped rosemary or thyme)

Preparation

1. GRILL the burger until fully cooked, with an internal temperature of 165°F. While the burger is cooking…

2. WARM or grill the pita bread. Spread the tzatziki sauce on the pita.

3. Arrange the grilled vegetables and roasted red pepper over the tzatziki. Set the grilled burger atop the grilled vegetables. Top with the grilled Halloumi.

4. SERVE with a side of parsley salad or tabbouleh, and an optional ramekin of olives.

RECIPE #2: PARSLEY SALAD

Low in calories and high in nutrition, parsley salad is a delicious side with burgers and sandwiches. Or, use it as a burger topping, or as part of a Middle Eastern mezze plate.

When serving this with the halloumi cheeseburger, it’s your decision whether you want the feta cheese. You can leave it out.

Ingredients For The Salad

4 cups Italian (flat) parsley leaves, washed, stems removed

1 cup peeled, diced cucumber

1 diced tomato

½ cup diced red onion

½ cup diced or crumbled feta

Ingredients For The Dressing

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon zest

¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper

1 clove garlic, minced

Preparation

1. COMBINE all salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

2. WHISK together the dressing ingredients.

3. DRIZZLE THE dressing over the parsley salad, then gently toss.

Mediterranean cheeseburger recipe with pita and Halloumi cheese
[1] “Mediterranean” cheeseburger on pita with tzatziki and grilled halloumi cheese.

[2] Grilled halloumi cheese. Enjoy it on a burger, sandwich, salad, or mixed skewers (photo © Ina Peters | iStock Photo).

Tzatziki Yogurt Cucumber Sauce
[3] Tzatziki (tsot-SEE-kee), a yogurt and cucumber sauce seasoned with garlic and dill. You can buy it or make your own (photo © Cava Grill).