Indian Spiced Chicken Burgers

It was good to get back into the kitchen, even though I'm still not well. I couldn't stand eating takeout or going out to eat every meal, and I finally gave into the siren song that was coming from my grill pan to make this dinner. It was incredibly satisfying to have something healthy and filled with flavor that I made with my own hands again. Nothing like a few days without cooking to make you remember why it is such a therapeutic process.

These burgers are simple and delicious. The yogurt sauce is pretty fantastic too, and its creamy mildness serves a great contrast to the sharp spice of the burger. We had ours on sandwich thins, which have been popping up in the supermarket lately, but the original recipe called for pitas. Either way, I recommend the hearty whole wheat, so it can stand up to the intense flavor and juiciness that it will have to contain.

Indian Spiced Chicken Burgers
adapted from Everyday Food: Great Food Fast
serves 3

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound ground chicken
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
juice of 1/2 lemon
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon plus 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
cooking spray
3 whole wheat pitas
1/2 hot house cucumber, thinly sliced
1/4 cup plan low-fat yogurt (pref. Greek)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, scallions, ginger, lemon juice, paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, cardamom, cayenne, and salt and pepper. Stir until just combined. Cover and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes to let the flavors marry.

2. Preheat grill pan over medium-high heat. When it is hot, spray with cooking spray. Divide the chicken into three patties, about 3/4 inch thick, and cook until done, about 5 minutes each side, until juices run clear when the patties are pierced.

3. While the patties cook, make the yogurt sauce by stirring yogurt with remaining cumin, a pinch of salt, and cilantro. Assemble the burgers by putting about a tablespoon or so of yogurt sauce into each pita, along with a chicken patty and cucumber slices.

Enjoy!