Turkish-Style Lamb Burgers With Walnut Sauce

Bulgur gives a nutty texture to spicy lamb burgers; pita rounds sop up the flavorful juice.

Yield:

Serves 4

Ingredients

1. FOR BURGERS
2. ==================
3. 1 cup boiling-hot water
4. 1/3 cup bulgur
5. 3/4 teaspoon salt
6. 1 medium onion, quartered
7. 1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
8. 1/4 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
9. 1 lb ground lamb
10. 1/2 teaspoon paprika (not hot)
11. 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
12. 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
13. 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
14. .
15. FOR SAUCE
16. ==================
17. 1 small garlic clove
18. 1/8 teaspoon salt
19. 1/2 cup walnuts (1 1/2 oz)
20. 1/4 cup water
21. 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
22. 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
23. .
24. FOR PITAS
25. ==================
26. 4 (4-inch) pita loaves
27. 1 tablespoon olive oil
28. Paprika (not hot) for dusting
29. .
30. GARNISH: fresh cilantro sprigs

Directions

1. SOAK BULGUR FOR BURGERS:
2. Pour boiling-hot water over bulgur with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl and soak 15 minutes, then drain in a sieve.
3. MAKE SAUCE WHILE BULGUR SOAKS:
4. Mince garlic and mash to a paste with salt (1/8 teaspoon) using a large heavy knife, then transfer to a food processor and blend with remaining sauce ingredients until smooth. Transfer to a bowl.
5. PREPARE BURGERS:
6. Preheat broiler.
7. Pulse onion and herbs in cleaned processor until finely chopped, then transfer to a bowl and stir in bulgur, lamb, paprika, allspice, pepper, cayenne, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt until just combined. Form lamb mixture into 4 patties (4 inches in diameter).
8. BROIL PITAS AND BURGERS:
9. Arrange pitas on a baking sheet. Brush with oil, then lightly dust with paprika and season with pepper. Broil on lowest rack until toasted, 1 to 3 minutes (watch to prevent burning). Keep pitas warm, loosely covered with foil, while broiling burgers.
10. Oil rack of a broiler pan and heat 4 inches from heat until hot, 3 to 5 minutes.
11. Broil burgers, turning over once, until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes total. Serve burgers on pitas, topped with sauce.

Notes