Biftekia - Feta Stuffed Turkey Burgers
“Biftekia” refers to Greek style beef hamburgers, typically stuffed with some type of cheese. I’ve changed up the protein in this recipe to turkey, and used vegan feta alternative, which melts beautifully and has a similar flavor profile to the real thing, for those of us who are dairy-free..
I used to make stuffed turkey burgers regularly, then it dropped off my weekly list. Mostly because I wasn’t happy with the turkey I was finding in the stores near me. Now that I have a service that provides us with a monthly box of humanely sourced meats, it’s back on the roster. The vegan feta is from Trader Joe’s, and the ingredients are paleo compatible. It’s not amazing to eat on its own, admittedly, and most of you know I’m a feta snob, even though I don’t partake in it regularly anymore. This one works for recipes, to crumble on top of a finished dish or, in this case, stuff into a burger. (It’s actually quite good in my orzo salad, made with cassava orzo!) Serve these biftekia with your favorite burger toppings. I love this plant-based tzatziki with the addition of harissa (spicy Mediterranean pepper paste, you can purchase in most any international aisle) for an extra zing. Add it to your taste.
I hope you try it and let me know your results in the comments.
Biftekia - Turkey Burgers Stuffed with Feta
Ingredients
Method
- Mix all ingredients together except for the feta.
- Divided into 6 equal portions, each about 1/3 pound.
- Shape each portion into a ball. Make a depression in the center and add the feta.
- Carefully close and shape into a thick burger patty.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes, or freeze to serve at a later time.
- Cook on a pre-heated grill, in the broiler preheated to 400◦ F, or in a grill pan or skillet, to desired doneness. If using a broiler or grill pan, be sure to prepare cooking surface with olive oil before cooking.
- Serve with tzatziki, over Romaine or butter lettuce leaves with your favorite burger toppings.
