• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cosette's Kitchen logo

  • Home
  • Virtual Cooking Classes
  • Recipes
    • Baking
      • Cookies
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Dinner
      • Side Dishes
    • Lebanese
    • Salads
  • About Me
  • Work Together
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Virtual Cooking Classes
  • Recipes
  • A little about me
  • Let’s Work Together
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    May 21, 2019

    Lamb Kofta Burgers with Sumac Yogurt Sauce

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    In partnership with New Seasons Market

    Melding Cultures

    kefta, kafta, kofta, burger, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Memorial Day, picnic, bbq, grill
    Yogurt Sumac Sauce really balances the rich lamb.

    The best part of growing up with a strong Lebanese background is food, of course! I didn’t grow up in Lebanon or really spend very much time there as a child, but my family always taught me about the culture and especially about the food, the most important part!!

    As I journeyed my way through double cultural living as an American Lebanese, I learned to meld the two together. Taking traditional Lebanese cuisine and melding into American culture. As we approach Memorial Day, we begin to think about creating delicious food to be shared among friends and family. A truly American way of bonding.

    kefta, kafta, kofta, burger, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Memorial Day, picnic, bbq, grill
    A burger with some bite! Lamb takes these to a whole other level.

    Picnic

    I am a big party planner!!! Our house tends to become the central ground for most summer picnics, including Memorial Day. I could easily throw some burgers on the grill but one of my favorite ways to jazz up a traditional burger is by making Kofta Burgers.

    Kofta is a common Middle Eastern dish and can be prepared in a number of ways. One of my favorite is simply grilled like a burger. It shares the same burger qualities but enhanced with spices and aromatics, taking a basic burger to an elevated flavor profile.

    Finding good lamb, like they have in Lebanon is easy living in the Pacific Northwest. My local New Seasons Market carries Umpqua Valley Lamb which is local, pasture raised lamb. The fresh taste can’t be beat and makes the perfect kofta burgers.

    kefta, kafta, kofta, burger, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Memorial Day, picnic, bbq, grill
    Fresh pasture raised Umpqua Valley Ground Lamb from my local New Seasons.

    Making Kofta

    Kofta is one of the easiest Lebanese dishes to prepare. A simple combination of ground lamb (or beef), onion, tomato, parsley and all spice create the ultimate flavor. The juices from the onions rendering while being grilled creates such a juicy burger that you’ll add them to ALL your burgers!
    I’m always thrilled to pickup local fresh ingredients from New Seasons Market and especially love their bulk section for spices!

    kefta, kafta, kofta, burger, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Memorial Day, picnic, bbq, grill
    Fresh green parsley adds a hint of flavor in these delicious burgers.


    kefta, kafta, kofta, burger, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Memorial Day, picnic, bbq, grill
    Beautiful vine ripened tomatoes provide some moisture to the burgers so they don’t dry out

    I’ve topped my Kofta Lamb Burgers with a yogurt sumac sauce. The tangy yogurt and lemony sumac help to balance the rich lamb flavor. Sumac is a special spice, one of my absolute favorites as it is one that is in za’atar blends. The hills of Lebanon create so much pure sumac, strong and full of flavor. It’s often times hard to find something so close to compare. New Seasons Market carries so many unique spices in their bulk department, truly offering some of the best spices to enhance food. I adore their sumac as it’s the closest I’ve found to what you can in Lebanon.

    kefta, kafta, kofta, burger, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Memorial Day, picnic, bbq, grill
    A wonderful array of spices found at the New Seasons bulk section.

    Finally, keeping with American tradition, I’ve piled these Kofta Lamb Burgers high on top of a fresh kaiser roll with lettuce, tomato, onion and a healthy drizzle of Yogurt Sumac Sauce. Or offer some Creamy Hummus for a dairy free option. Pair with this hearty Mediterranean Rice Salad for a complete meal.

    I hope you enjoy this recipe and test it out at your next backyard BBQ. Elevating your burger to create something unique and special. As always, I love seeing your creations, tag me on Instagram or Facebook!! Don’t forget to Pin the recipe!
    XOXO,
    Cosette 

    kefta, kafta, kofta, burger, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Memorial Day, picnic, bbq, grill
    Have all your ingredients ready to go for guest to assemble their burgers.
    kefta, kafta, kofta, burger, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Memorial Day, picnic, bbq, grill
    Go heavy on the Yogurt Sumac Sauce, you won’t regret it.
    kefta, kafta, kofta, burger, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Memorial Day, picnic, bbq, grill
    Pin for later!

    In partnership with New Seasons market, all opinions are my own.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    kefta, kafta, kofta, burger, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Memorial Day, picnic, bbq, grill

    Lamb Kofta Burgers with Sumac Yogurt Sauce

    ★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews
    • Author: Cosette’s Kitchen
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 6 burgers 1x
    • Category: meat
    • Method: grill
    • Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Tasty grilled Kofta Burgers, taking simple ingredients and elevating them!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    Kofta Burgers

    • 1.5 lb ground lamb ~ 85/15 (could sub beef)
    • 3/4 large onion, diced
    • 1 large tomato, diced
    • small bunch of flat leaf parsley, chopped (about 1/4 cup)
    • 2 tsp kosher salt (adjust to taste)
    • 1.5 tsp all spice

    Yogurt Sumac Sauce

    • 1 cup whole milk yogurt (find my labneh recipe here)
    • 1 heaping tsp toum, or 1 large clove garlic mashed
    • 1 tsp sumac spice
    • 1/2–1 tsp kosher salt (adjust to taste)

    Instructions

    Kofta Burgers

    1. In a large bowl, add your ground lamb, onion, tomato, parsley and spices.
    2. Using clean hands, mix all the ingredients together until all are combined.
    3. Begin shaping into round burger shaped patties, about 1/4 pound each. You should be able to make 6 burgers with 1.5 pounds.
    4. Make a hole in the center of your burger with your finger, this is supposed to help with keeping the burger the same size and not shrinking.
    5. Place on heated medium/high grill for about 3-4 minutes on each side for medium-well.
    6. Remove from heat and assemble on your choice of bread. Add lettuce, tomato, onion, yogurt sumac sauce and even some feta cheese for an added bonus.
    7. Enjoy!

    Notes

    You may make burger patties ahead of time and freeze to prepare at a later date. Wrap individual burgers in freezer paper, pull out and grill frozen when ready. You may need some additional time on the grill.

    Keywords: kofta, burger, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Memorial Day, picnic, bbq, grill

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @cosetteskitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #cosetteskitchen

    Filed Under: BBQ, Burgers, Lebanese, Party, Summer Tagged With: BBQ, burger, grill, kofta, lebanese, Mediterranean, Memorial Day, picnic

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vicki says

      May 23, 2019 at 4:29 am

      These look amazing! I’ll bet good lamb is easy to come by at my local butcher here in The Netherlands. Also fresh ingredients are always present in our store but also in the street markets.
      I love making yoghurt sauces to get the family away from mayo based dips and sauce that are so loved here.
      From experience I know that your recipes are fantastic and this will be no exception! I’ve had your burgers and they’re some of the best around 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Cosette's Kitchen says

        May 23, 2019 at 6:12 pm

        Thanks for your comment Vicki and yes, I bet you’d find some super fresh ingredients in the Netherlands. I hope you try this and everyone enjoys!!!
        xoxo,
        Cosette

        Reply
    2. Shirley B says

      May 26, 2019 at 5:59 am

      Love this idea! Can’t wait to make them.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Cosette's Kitchen says

        June 06, 2019 at 7:00 pm

        So happy to hear that Shirley, they really are delicious!

        xoxo,
        Cosette

        Reply
    3. Brittany Rebalsky says

      April 14, 2021 at 2:43 am

      These burgers were so juicy and the yogurt sumac sauce complimented the flavors of the lamb so well. Will definitely be making again.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Cosette's Kitchen says

        April 14, 2021 at 3:12 pm

        Oh yay, so happy to hear this!!! Such a great combination – thanks for leaving a review! I got your entry!

        xoxo,
        Cosette

        Reply
    4. Cosette's Kitchen says

      June 09, 2019 at 3:18 pm

      Thank you for including this recipe to your list!
      Xoxo,
      Cosette

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. 10 Recipes To Try | ¡HOLA! JALAPEÑO¡HOLA! JALAPEÑO says:
      June 9, 2019 at 2:29 pm

      […] Lamb Kofta Burgers with Sumac Yogurt Sauce from Cosette’s Kitchen […]

      Reply
    2. Mediterranean Lamb Bowls - Cosette's Kitchen says:
      July 15, 2019 at 2:14 am

      […] dishes you may enjoy:Kofta Lamb BurgersMediterranean Roast LambMediterranean Rice […]

      Reply
    3. 5 Quarantine Friendly Sandwiches that don’t suck - Salima's Kitchen says:
      May 4, 2020 at 2:27 pm

      […] Check out Cosette’s kofta burgers here. […]

      Reply
    4. Crispy Lamb Salad with Yogurt Dressing - Cosette's Kitchen says:
      July 24, 2020 at 5:38 am

      […] work with, especially for someone who may be intimidated to try a new type of protein. Recipes like Lamb Kofta Burger, Mediterranean Lamb Bowl or Sfeeha all use ground […]

      Reply
    5. Lebanese Lamb Tacos: Tacos Arabes - Cosette's Kitchen says:
      February 10, 2021 at 12:37 am

      […] Eggplant Lamb StewFasolia bi Lahme – Lebanese Lamb StewLamb Kofta Burgers with Sumac Yogurt SauceCrispy Lamb Salad with Yogurt DressingMediterranean Lamb […]

      Reply
    6. Spicy Lebanese Potatoes (Batata Harra) - Cosette's Kitchen says:
      April 15, 2021 at 7:57 pm

      […] do you serve with these potatoes?Just about anything! I love having them with chicken shawarma or kofta burgers. Think of them as street food, so anything that is a quick bite. They are also perfect to serve as […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    me

    My name is Cosette Posko and I reside in Portland, Oregon with my family of five. Originally from Pennsylvania, I moved to the great Pacific Northwest about 15 years ago and have been here ever since.

    More about me →

    Latest Posts

    • Salmon Caesar Salad with Yogurt Dressing
    • How to Cook Whole Salmon in the Oven (Middle Eastern Flavors)
    • Lamb Meatballs with Pomegranate Molasses Barbeque Sauce
    • Philly Style Tomato Pie

    Find A Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy + Disclosure

    Follow Us

    Contact

    • Photo + Recipe Sharing

    Cosette’s Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

    Copyright © 2021 Cosette's Kitchen