I know American burgers have all the fame. I know that when someone speaks about burgers his mind goes to US. This is kind of a staple for the country. Something like croissant for French or Moussaka for Greeks or pasta for Italians. I know all that, but it is always good to approach things from different perspectives sometimes. That’s what biftekia do. We make a lot of biftekia/burgers in Greece only in a different way. This is a family recipe. I grew up with the smell of these broiled in the oven especially during weekends, when we gathered as a family around the kitchen table to eat. I do not know why, but my mother chose to make them always during weekends. If you have the time and mood do try them and let me know what you think.
Biftekia (Greek Burgers)
Ingredients
½ kilo ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 egg
130 gr. bread (preferably one or two days’ old)
1 tsp spearmint, dried
1 tsp oregano, dried
1 tsp salt
A bunch of parsley finely chopped
A handful of cheese, I used emental but any yellow cheese would do
¼ cup olive oil
Instructions
In a bowl put the bread and soak it in water. In another bowl put all the other ingredients. Take the bread and drain it very well from the water, so as to become something like a pulp. Add also this to the beef bowl and knead with your hands until everything is incorporated. Take a pan and cover it with parchment paper, oil it. Form the burgers and place them in the pan.
Put them in the broiler. Broil to your liking, I prefer them very well done. Fifteen minutes before the end, you can slice a tomato and place the slices above the burgers. Of course this is optional, but it adds moisture to them, makes them fluffier. Kali Orexi!
Labels: Greek, Main Course, Meat
