BUNS FOR BURGERS RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. You can make these burgers or sliders in an oven at full whack, on the barbecue or in a hot pan. If you’re using the oven or barbecue, preheat it now.
  2. Peel and finely chop the onions. Put a splash of olive oil into a large frying pan on a low heat and add your onions. Fry for 10 minutes or until the onions have softened, then put to one side to cool completely.
  3. Blitz your crackers or bread (remove the crusts first) in a food processor until you get a fine consistency. Oil a clean baking tray and put aside.
  4. Put the cooled onions into a large bowl with the rest of the burger ingredients. Use clean hands to scrunch the mixture together really well, then divide into 6 equal balls for burgers and 18 equal balls for sliders.
  5. Wet your hands and roll the balls into burger-shaped patties about 2cm thick. Place your burgers or sliders on the oiled baking tray and pat with a little olive oil. Cover them with clingfilm and put the tray into the fridge for at least an hour, or until the patties firm up.
  6. This is a good time to make your spicy mayo, so put mayo, yoghurt, ketchup and smoked paprika into a bowl, squeeze in the lemon juice, mix well and put to one side.
  7. If using a frying pan or griddle pan, put it on a high heat now and let it get really hot. However you decide to cook your burgers, they’ll want around 3 or 4 minutes per side – you may have to cook them in batches if your pan isn’t big enough.
  8. When your burgers or sliders are nearly cooked on one side, add the rashers of bacon – whichever way you’re cooking them – then flip the burgers and cook the bacon until golden and crisp.
  9. When the burgers are cooked to your liking and it’s all looking really good, halve your burger buns and warm them through. Put the bacon on a plate lined with kitchen paper to drain.
  10. Click off the lettuce leaves, wash and spin dry. Slice the tomatoes and gherkins.
  11. When everything comes together, pop your burgers or sliders on to their buns, add all your lovely toppings and your spicy mayo (you know how to put a burger together!), then tuck in with a lovely fresh salad, baked potato or potato wedges.

Steps:

• 1. Pound all the dry rub ingredients and 1 teaspoon each of sea salt and black pepper in a pestle and mortar until fine.
  2. Split the minced lamb into 6 pieces, and with wet hands, shape into patties about 1.5cm thick. Pat the dry rub all over the burgers, then drizzle over a tiny bit of olive oil.
  3. You can either cook the burgers on a barbecue or indoors on a griddle – either light the barbecue and prepare a hot side and a cooler side, or if cooking indoors, heat a large griddle pan over a medium-high heat.
  4. Cook the burgers for 6 to 7 minutes on each side, or until done to your liking, then remove to a plate.
  5. Quickly halve and lightly toast the buns on the cool side of the barbecue or in the griddle.
  6. Spoon the yoghurt into a small bowl and dollop the harissa on top. Squeeze over a little lemon juice to loosen, then ripple the harissa through the yoghurt and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Pick the mint leaves.
  7. Spread some harissa yoghurt onto the bases of the toasted buns, top with the burgers, squashing them gently into the buns. Add a little more yoghurt, then squeeze the remaining lemon juice over a the mint leaves and place on top. Delicious served with a seasonal salad.