Meteorologist serves up burgers on ‘Jayni’

Join “Jayni’s Kitchen” this week for “Recipes That Guarantee a Sunny Outlook With Meteorologist Bryan Busby.”

Host Jayni Carey and Busby will prepare the following recipes.

A new show airs at 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6. The show also is broadcast at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday; 9 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., Wednesday; 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday; 9:30 a.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Monday.

Goat Cheese Stuffed Lamb Burgers

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1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon minced garlic

2 tablespoons minced red onion

2 tablespoons minced sweet red pepper

1 slice white bread

2 tablespoons milk

1 1/2 pounds ground lamb

1 large egg

1 tablespoon fresh mint, finely chopped

1 to 3 teaspoons harissa paste, to taste

salt and white pepper, to taste

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 to 6 flat bread (pita bread) rounds

Goat Cheese Filling:

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cups spinach leaves, roughly chopped

3 ounces soft goat cheese

Goat Cheese Filling: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and quickly saute it just until it begins to wilt. Do not overcook the spinach. Cool the spinach briefly, then mix it with the goat cheese in a small bowl. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon each of butter and olive oil over medium-high heat in a large stainless steel (oven-proof) skillet or braising pan. Add the garlic, onion and red pepper and saute until tender and translucent. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the vegetables to a plate to cool. Reserve the pan drippings in the skillet or braising pan as they will help to flavor the lamb burgers.

In a medium bowl, combine the bread slice and milk. Add the ground lamb and the cooked garlic, onion and red pepper. Stir in the egg, mint, harissa, salt and white pepper and mix until well combined. Divide the lamb mixture into four to six equal portions and roll into oversized meatballs. Make a dent in the center of each meatball with your thumb to create a cavity for the Goat Cheese Filling. Insert 1 to 2 tablespoons of the filling into the cavity. Pinch the lamb meat around the center to close the cavity. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the reserved drippings in the pan and heat over medium-high heat. Add the burgers and cook on each side from 2 to 4 minutes, until nicely browned. Place the skillet or braising pan containing the lamb burgers in a 350-degree oven from 5 to 10 minutes, or until the burgers reach desired doneness.

Serve the lamb burgers on warmed flat bread rounds and top with a healthy dollop of Yogurt Sauce (recipe follows).

Yogurt Sauce

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1 cup kefir cheese (Lebni), or yogurt cheese (see note)

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons fresh dill weed, chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried dill weed

1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, to taste

1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced

1 cucumber, seeded and thinly sliced

salt and black pepper, to taste

Place the kefir cheese or yogurt cheese in a bowl. Add the apple cider vinegar, dill and sugar. Whisk the mixture until smooth, then fold in the sliced onion and cucumber. Season with salt and pepper.

Note: To make yogurt cheese, line a large wire-mesh strainer with two layers of cheesecloth and place over a bowl. Spoon 2 cups plain low-fat yogurt into the cheesecloth. Refrigerate and let the yogurt drain for about 6 hours, pour off the liquid and turn the cheese over onto clean cheesecloth. Allow the yogurt to drain for 6 hours more, or until fairly firm. Refrigerate the yogurt cheese in a covered container until ready to use.