Middle Eastern Lamb Burgers with Tahini Sauce
Juicy burgers of cumin and parsley-spiced lamb with crisp lettuce, tomato and a lemony tahini sauce in place of mayo.
Made with Tahini sauce. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.27 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the lamb, onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander and salt in a bowl with your hands. Mix only until it holds together, as overworking makes the burgers tough.
- 2
Divide into 4 and shape into patties about 2 cm thick. Press a shallow dip in the centre of each with your thumb to stop them puffing up. Chill for 15 minutes.
- 3
Brush the patties with the olive oil. Cook on a hot griddle, barbecue or frying pan for 5 to 6 minutes on each side, until deep brown and cooked through with no pink inside.
11 min - 4
Toast the cut sides of the buns on the griddle for 1 minute.
- 5
Loosen your ready made tahini sauce (see the base recipe) with a little cold water.
- 6
Build each burger with lettuce, tomato, a patty and a generous spoon of tahini sauce, and serve straight away.
Tips
- Squeeze the grated onion in a clean cloth first. Too much liquid makes the patties fall apart.
- Chilling the patties before cooking helps them keep their shape on the heat.
- Beef mince works if lamb is hard to find. Serve with chips or a chopped cucumber and tomato salad.
Storing and freezing
Keep cooked burgers in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Uncooked patties can be frozen for up to 3 months and cooked from frozen with extra time.
Questions
How do I know the burgers are cooked?
Cut one in half. There should be no pink inside and the juices should be clear. A probe thermometer should read at least 75 C in the middle.
Can I make these gluten free?
Yes. The patties and sauce contain no gluten, so serve them in gluten free buns or in a lettuce cup. Check the spice labels for any added wheat.
More made with tahini sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.