Juicy Lahori Beef Burger
A simple American burger but infused with Pakistani spices. That is exactly how I describe this burger. With melted American cheese on top and a bed of garlicky labneh spread, this burger is perfection and always on demand. Its so quick and easy too. My brother especially requests this whenever he comes over because he’s the type to feel guilty if I am in the kitchen for too long. Of course it’s also because he thinks it’s delicious. This right here is a spectacular juicy beef Lahori burger.
Ground Meat Marination
I said ground meat and not beef because all kinds of protein works well in this recipe. Whether it is ground chicken, ground lamb or even ground turkey. The reason is all the different Pakistani masalas we use. They add a bit of spice and earthiness to the burgers.
I use an Habanero pepper because I find that it gives the spicy flavor a bit more character, it’s more of a tropical touch. You’ll see what I mean when you taste that first bite. You can simply substitute with green chillies or even red crushed peppers if you’d like.
This marinated ground beef is good to make ahead of time too. Just cover the bowl and let it chill in the fridge.
Secret to the juicy Lahori beef burger?
I am not going to define the chemical reactions and such, although I am definitely interested.
So lets get to the point, what works for me in this burger is the good old besan (gram flour) and one beaten egg. Anytime I use these two together in the burger, the result is always a delicious soft melt in your mouth patty.
Also I suggest using a cast iron vessel and let it heat up before you add the patty.
Last but not least, do NOT flip the burger until it releases from the pan on its own. Let it cook on each side for 5 to 6 minutes on medium high heat.
How to build this burger
Labneh:
A bit of labneh mixed with fresh garlic paste or garlic powder makes an easy but delicious spread for this burger. labneh is basically dehydrated yogurt and tastes delicious on its own too. You can find this in any Mediterranean stores. The texture is almost like soft cream cheese and the flavor is tangy and creamy. A bit more sour than yogurt.
Cheese
Any kind of cheese will do but American cheese or Swiss cheese is my go to when it comes to this burger. It enhances the flavor without overpowering it. Plus the melt just perfectly.
Onions & Cabbage
Some crispy onion rings and shredded cabbage for the crunch are all that you need when it comes to the veggies. You can also substitute the cabbage with shredded lettuce. Also, for the onion rings, try changing it up a bit by adding some french onions. You’ll thank me later.
Burger Buns
Last but not least, you can use any type of burger buns. My personal favorite for this specific recipe are sweet buns. You can use honey buns or the Hawaiian buns. You can also use Hawaiian dinner rolls to turn these into cute little but delicious sliders, options are endless.
The sweet buns level out the spiciness and are just perfect with the beef patties. Also, don’t forget to toast the buns.
Quite honestly you can add any condiments you like to this burger. I personally don’t like adding too much on this patty because I really like tasting different spices in the patty.
Please make sure to tag me and rate this recipe if you try this out in your kitchen. I know you will love it.
Lahori Beef Burgers
Ingredients
Ground Beef Marination
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 small Onion chopped
- 4-5 Mint Leaves roughly chopped
- 1/4 bunch Cilantro roughly chopped
- 1 Diced Habanero pepper can be substituted with 2 green chillies)
- 1 tsp Garlic paste
- 1 tsp Chili powder
- ½ tsp Cumin powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
Binder
- 1 large Egg beaten
- 2-3 tbsp Gram Flour
Labneh Spread
- ½ cup Labneh can be substituted with Mayonnaise
- ½ tsp Chopped Garlic can be substituted with ¼ tsp garlic powder
Assembling
- 2 tbsp Neutral Oil
- 4 large Hawaiian Burger Buns split
- 8-12 Onion Rings
- 1½ cups Shredded lettuce or cabbage
- 4 slices American or Swiss cheese
Instructions
Marination
- Mix all ingredients with ground beef
- Marinate for at least 20 minutes or overnight
Binding
- Mix in the beaten egg.
- Slowly add gram flour a teaspoon at a time. Ground beef should not be wet or dry.
Grilling/Cook
- Heat a cast iron or the grill on medium high heat.
- Make the patties, oil your hands to prevent meat sticking to hands.
- Fry or grill patties on both sides for 5-6 minutes.
- Add cheese on patty for the last minute or two. Cover with lid until melted.
Assembling the Burger
- Using a knife spread about a tablespoon of some Labenh mixture
- Layer with cabbage or lettuce.
- Rest the patty on the shredded greens.
- Add onions and cover with the top side of the bun.
Love the idea of using Hawaiian burger buns instead of regular ones!