How to make the perfect burger and lamb kofta on the barbecue
The word koftas, from Persian culture, translates as 'to grind'. I've taken inspiration here from acclaimed Turkish chef Ahmet Dede of
Dede restaurant
in Baltimore, Co Cork, whom I've long admired for his talent, work ethic and ability to make complex food look incredibly simple to prepare while making it taste incredibly complex. It's quite the skill. His staff food is legendary and I've no doubt these have appeared a few times.
The key is an even split of lamb and pork mince; the lamb is packed with flavour while the fat content of the pork mince prevents them from drying out. Toast your spices to reactivate them before blending it all together. Try not to overwork the meat when mixing – it should be ground and tender when you cut into it. Remember, we don't want meat paste.
Pickled red onion is another go-to in my house during the summer. It can be made in a large batch and kept in the fridge, adding vibrancy and colour to so many dishes. In fact, the same recipe can be applied to loads of different vegetables that are sliced thinly. By pickling, you are also adding shelf life and saving on waste, as well as adding flavour options.
READ MORE
The second recipe is a classic smash burger, where the meat patty is pressed into the grill or grate to encourage browning and crisping of the edges. Note the specific cuts of meat for the mince. You can ask your butcher to do this for you. Going the extra mile will repay you handsomely in flavour – all you need to do is add some salt and pepper. Like the kofta, the aim is to avoid overworking the meat so it doesn't turn into paste. The real magic lies in the sauce. The addition of chopped capers, gherkins and dill will remind you of a very famous burger from a notable fast-food chain. This is delicious; once you try it, you'll never go back. Now, all we need is proper sunshine.
Recipe: Barbecue lamb kofta with pickled red onion
Recipe: Barbecue smash burgers with dill pickle sauce
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
How to make the perfect burger and lamb kofta on the barbecue
This week we are back on the barbecue, using up cost-effective minced meat to produce two quick and delicious dinners. While there are many recipes for koftas and burgers on the market, elements such as pickled red onion and burger sauce will really elevate your home cooking. Flavour is often found in the less fashionable ingredients. The word koftas, from Persian culture, translates as 'to grind'. I've taken inspiration here from acclaimed Turkish chef Ahmet Dede of Dede restaurant in Baltimore, Co Cork, whom I've long admired for his talent, work ethic and ability to make complex food look incredibly simple to prepare while making it taste incredibly complex. It's quite the skill. His staff food is legendary and I've no doubt these have appeared a few times. The key is an even split of lamb and pork mince; the lamb is packed with flavour while the fat content of the pork mince prevents them from drying out. Toast your spices to reactivate them before blending it all together. Try not to overwork the meat when mixing – it should be ground and tender when you cut into it. Remember, we don't want meat paste. Pickled red onion is another go-to in my house during the summer. It can be made in a large batch and kept in the fridge, adding vibrancy and colour to so many dishes. In fact, the same recipe can be applied to loads of different vegetables that are sliced thinly. By pickling, you are also adding shelf life and saving on waste, as well as adding flavour options. READ MORE The second recipe is a classic smash burger, where the meat patty is pressed into the grill or grate to encourage browning and crisping of the edges. Note the specific cuts of meat for the mince. You can ask your butcher to do this for you. Going the extra mile will repay you handsomely in flavour – all you need to do is add some salt and pepper. Like the kofta, the aim is to avoid overworking the meat so it doesn't turn into paste. The real magic lies in the sauce. The addition of chopped capers, gherkins and dill will remind you of a very famous burger from a notable fast-food chain. This is delicious; once you try it, you'll never go back. Now, all we need is proper sunshine. Recipe: Barbecue lamb kofta with pickled red onion Recipe: Barbecue smash burgers with dill pickle sauce
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
Luxury living in a Pembroke Road period pile for €795,000
Apartment number 4 at 51 Pembroke Road in Ballsbridge has been refurbished and dressed for sale. Now on the market priced at €795,000 the two-bed property is full of Georgian charm. Staged by designer Breeda O'Sullivan of Upstaged Properties, the apartment has been transformed into a fresh and bright space in its latest makeover. For O'Sullivan, there was a lot of satisfaction in taking on such a project as she got to work around some eye-catching period features and ensure that they had the ability to shine as the apartment comes to the market. 'It is a beautiful apartment with stunning features,' she says. 'The decor was quite dated, so we painted the walls in a Colourtrend paint called Subtle, which is our go-to colour, as it works in every property we stage. The woodwork was freshened up using a satin white and we used a light oatmeal carpet on the floor.' READ MORE Once this new neutral colour scheme was in place, Breeda and her team filled the property with contemporary furniture ensuring the light and sense of space were showcased. Situated on the second floor of the four-storey-over-basement building, the original stained-glass window on the return can be admired as you walk up the stairs to get to the apartment's front door. Set out over 102 sq m (1,097sq ft), the first thing you notice when you enter the home is the 3m high ceilings. Stained-glass in shared hallway The livingroom is south-facing and has a triple sash window looking out to the back garden. The original shutters have been restored and frame the large window that has views out as far as the Dublin mountains. There is a marble fireplace and hearth with a coal-effect gas fire. The room is laid out with a dining table at the window and the living area around the fireplace. Living space with diningroom Livingroom A door off the livingroom leads to the kitchen. The current units and oven could do with an upgrade but as the space is small and neat, it would not be a big undertaking. The two bedrooms are doubles and both have a large, shuttered sash window with Juliette balconies. The bathroom is across the hallway and comes with a bath and hot-press. Bedroom Sash window in bedroom The garden at the back of the house is well-kept and shared with the other residents. Two designated parking spaces come with the apartment, which is Ber-exempt. The location would be ideal for a young professional working in the city. There are numerous restaurants and bars on the doorstep in Ballsbridge and Donnybrook. Baggot Street is five minutes away on foot and a walk to St Stephen's Green takes 20 minutes. A city apartment that has retained its period features and coming to the market in good condition is not that easy to find any more. Number 4 at 57 Pembroke Road was a one-bedroomed apartment in a similar state and style when it sold for €526,000 last year. With the added benefit of a second bedroom and an extra 34 sq m to play around with, number 4, 51 Pembroke Road, comes to the market with an asking price of €795,000 with Hunters Estate Agent.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Irish Times
Remodelled detached Killiney home for €2.35m with teenager-friendly garden and a home cinema
Address : The Laurels, Cenacle Grove, Killiney, Co Dublin Price : €2,350,000 Agent : Sherry FitzGerald View this property on Set in the seclusion of Cenacle Grove off Killiney Hill Road lies the Laurels, a spacious five-bedroom home among seven other detached properties, hidden away from sight. Said to take its name from the Cenacle sisters, a French order of nuns who once occupied the stately Kilmarnock House which occupies the site behind, the property was last on the market in 2020 and appears on the Property Price Register as having sold that year for the sum of €1.5 million. Though having had new wiring and new windows fitted back then, the current owners have given the home a makeover, while also adding insulation and 22 solar panels, so it now has an improved Ber of B1. They also re-rendered the exterior to give the property a more polished finish, and you would never think that this now turnkey property was once a 1980s redbrick bungalow. The owners say they fell for its location – just a five-minute walk for a swim at Killiney's blue-flag beach and a five-minute drive to the N11 and the M50 – the space inside, as it extends to a considerable 302sq m (3,250sq ft), and the grounds, as they occupy 0.6 of an acre. Having links with the United States, the owners wanted an American feel to their home and to take advantage of having a southerly aspect. To do this, they widened doorways, so rooms now flow into one another, and added skylights to bounce light through the interiors. 'We partnered with Abbington Design [who updated the kitchen, all joinery and stripped and refinished the solid oak flooring throughout] and they gave the house a 'heavy facelift' as we knew it had the potential to become an outstanding home with plenty of space and light,' says the owner. READ MORE Hall Kitchen Dining area Drawingroom Livingroom Now, the home is designed to accommodate a large family where both children and parents have plenty of space to live and entertain. When the house was being remodelled, they also converted the garage to accommodate an en suite bedroom, though they say this space 'has been taken over by the kids, who use is for darts, Xboxes and as a hybrid gym'. A large hallway sets the scene of what lies inside, leading to an open-plan contemporary kitchen, dining and family space. Describing this space as 'greedy for light,' the owners say its energy changes through the day from being brightly lit in the mornings to 'a soft rosy light during the evenings'. With hand-painted units, the kitchen has Miele and Fisher & Paykel appliances, with further storage in a utility room, which itself has a high-end fitout with quartz countertops. To the rear of the house lies a family room – also used as a home cinema as it has a projector screen – with a walnut fitted bar and entertainment unit. It has two large picture windows and large sliding doors giving both light and access to the gardens. The property has five double bedrooms Outside seating area Lawn Outside dining area Raised patio with sunken fire pit Gardens extend to 0.6 of an acre Aerial view A more intimate formal drawingroom lies to the left of the hallway, and here Abbington Design created fitted units with interesting bronze inlay and handles. It has five bedrooms, all of which are good sized doubles. Two have en suites, while the principal has a walk-in wardrobe. The gardens here certainly add to the house. Along with their size on over half an acre, they have been meticulously laid out by Vyvian White of Lotus Landscape Design in conjunction with Evergreen Landscapes. They were designed in pockets to accommodate family needs. For dining, there's a barbecue area to the side with a large pergola for cover. This leads to a large patio with seating for 12, while a raised patio – adjacent to a basketball hoop – has a sunken firepit and large lawn, and was constructed with teenagers in mind. Besides the design for specific uses, the brief to landscapers was to have year-round interest and colour: 'It is really only in December that it feels it's at rest.' There is also a garden room hidden away at the end of the lawn, which works well as a home office. Owners love the light, bright welcoming spaces of their home, describing it as 'a phenomenal space to entertain but also restful and calm'. Having spent the past five years in Ireland – where they had planned to live long term at the Laurels – they are returning to the US for work reasons and have placed their turnkey home on the market through Sherry FitzGerald, seeking €2.35 million. The furniture, much of which was designed for the house and imported from the US, is available by further negotiation.
