Spiced Lamb Sliders with Caramelized Onions

Posted on | February 3, 2008 | 24 Comments |

Any White Castle fans out there? Every time I watch the movie Harold & Kumar go to White Castle, I get this unbelievable cravings for white castle burgers. It is one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen, and I don’t mind watching it again and again. Yeah, I love stupid dude movies… Anyway, I have never had a White Castle burger ever, but Siv has and he never stops talking about how many he can finish in one sitting. For those who are not familiar with their burgers, White castle makes these mini-burgers also known as sliders or slyders. Their website has the top secret process behind making the perfect sliders. You can view the complete pictorial here, but to sum it up they put five holes in the patty, and have the patties cook on top of a sizzling bed of onions. The steam from the onions help the meat to cook while the meat absorbs all the flavor from the onions.

So last week after I watched Harold & Kumar for the umpteenth time, I had to have some mini burgers immediately. We only had ground lamb at home, and no buns but these mini pita breads left over from a party. I followed the base process of putting the holes on the patties and cooking on a bed of onions, that is where the similarity to the New Castle sliders end. These turned out delicious, especially the onions slightly caramelized and flavored with the lamb juices, yummy!

Lamb Mini Burgers

Ingredients

(6 mini burgers)

For the patties
- 1/2 lb ground lamb
- 1/5 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 cup minced shallots
- 1 tbsp minced thyme
- 1 tbsp minced cilantro leaves
- 1 tbs minced mint leaves
- 1/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- salt to taste
2 cups onions cut into thin long strips
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp oil
12 slider buns or mini pita breads
Condiments of your choice.

Method

Place all the ingredients for the patties in a mixing bowl and combine well using your hands. Shape into about six small sized patties not too thin, but not too thick either. Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes for the flavors to combine.

Pre-heat the oven to 400F.

Remove the patties from the fridge and make about three holes each in the patties with your finger.

In a large oven proof non-stick skillet, heat the oil and add the onions. When the onions start to sizzle, arrange the lamb patties on top of the onion bed without touching each other.

Bake in the oven for 6 minutes on one side. Turn the patties over, and stir the onion bed to make sure they don’t burn. If it shows the signs of burning, remove the onions from the pan after the first 6 minutes, and finish caramelizing on stove top, when the patties finish cooking on the other side.

To serve, warm up the pita bread/buns in the oven, spread some spicy mayonnaise or a blended yogurt or chutney of your choice, arrange the meat patties and top it with the caramelized onions. You can add some lettuce, tomato etc to the burger as well.

Sending this over to Radhi’s Kitchen as my entry for JFI – Onions. JFI (Jihva for Ingredients) is an event started by Indira of Mahanandi.

Category: Appetizers and Snacks, Lamb or Goat

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« « My Birthday Loot| Kothamalli Thogayal (Cilantro Chutney) » »

Comments

24 Responses to “Spiced Lamb Sliders with Caramelized Onions”

Shankari
February 3rd, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
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Yum, I just thawed ground chicken for making mini burgers and here you are with a recipe!
How was the romantic dinner? Ok I am not asking for details
Rajitha
February 3rd, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
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seriously..love that movie..and can watch it as many times i have the time or desire..waay to funny! and yep! the white castles supposedly do cause cravings..some of my friends drool when they talk about it
Kaykat
February 3rd, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
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We watched that last night. And I *love* it

Meat-monkey, you!
vimmi
February 3rd, 2008 @ 5:06 pm
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Oh The mini burger looks so amazing. have to try these. Watched the movie yrs ago. Really funny.
rachel
February 3rd, 2008 @ 7:13 pm
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details on the dinner please

Never had the slyders..but definitely would want to try after looking at this version!
Nags
February 3rd, 2008 @ 7:53 pm
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that’s lovely Sig. Its amazing what you do with misc ingredients Necessity is mother of invention and all that, eh?
sunita
February 4th, 2008 @ 1:04 am
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Those burgers look yum …
Padmaja
February 4th, 2008 @ 1:40 am
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Sig!!! Love those burgers, I ahve been quiet over the weekend and already missed 2 of your posts!!!
Lots to catch up dear and love those yummy burgers and hey guess what, even i made beef burgers over the weekend, will post in a day!!
Are u still on cloud nine dear??
indosungod
February 4th, 2008 @ 4:34 am
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Sig, great to hear you had a great birthday and the loot was not mean either The burgers do look yum, carmelized onions and all.
Susan from Food Blogga
February 4th, 2008 @ 4:54 am
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What lovely appetizers these make. I never would have thought to use lamb. Thanks for the delicious idea!
Happy Cook
February 4th, 2008 @ 5:03 am
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Never seen the movie.
The burgers look delicious and onions are super.
Coudn’t resiste to come here and have a peep during my break
Asha
February 4th, 2008 @ 5:23 am
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There is a new one coming out. “Harold and Kumar goes Guatemala”, Kumar (surprise!) gets arrested because they think he is a terrorist!!
Hope you enjoyed your B’day dinner. We loved the game and the food, cooked all morning!!:D
Never eaten the White castle burgers, looks delcious. I like beef burgers.Great entry!:)
Rina
February 4th, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
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Love these Sig…Can’t wait to try.
richa
February 4th, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
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oh yeah that is one crudely funny movie …. lol
lovely presentation of the burgers!
Sheela
February 4th, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
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Hey Sig, Another Harold & Kumar fan, eh?

It has been a while since I did any blog hopping – or any regular blogging for that matter – what with D deciding to go on a “diet” as his New Year resolution just to spite me, I haven’t been cooking much

But for the lamb, i know i could gobble these up by the dozens – love carmelized onions! Would have liked to munch on them while watching the SuperBowl yesterday…
A-kay
February 4th, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
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Being vegetarian and all, I have never hd the white castle burgers. But love the movie – waiting for the sequel
Poonam Phatak
February 4th, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
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They look perfect for even a bit sized snack!
Kalai
February 4th, 2008 @ 6:30 pm
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Gorgeous, girl! I love lamb burgers and this is a wonderful idea!
Meeta
February 5th, 2008 @ 12:36 pm
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Oh Sig you and me we’d make a cool team in the kitchen. These kind of burgers are my favorite. I love the use of lamb. Perfect!
sage
March 6th, 2008 @ 6:20 pm
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Sig, This looks really delicious. Its a really great idea for an appetizer. May I know where I can buy those mini pita bread?
Thanks.

Hi Sage, I bought it from Whole Foods in Seattle.
dnyanada
February 2nd, 2009 @ 4:39 pm
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Hey Sigma,
I really want to try this recipe, looks so yum. Can u tell me from where did u manage to get the mini slider buns / slider pitas ? i never find them. Do u get them in regular grocery store ?
let me know. thx.
Shannon
April 7th, 2009 @ 11:36 am
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Love, love, love this idea! I wanted a lamb recipe to mix up a normal Easter dinner & this is such a great addition
Alana Okelberry
March 18th, 2010 @ 5:54 pm
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Superb blog, numerous fascinating information. I remember 7 of days ago, I have visited a similar blog.