This post was originally posted on The Chutney Life and reposted with permission.
I love lamb, but it is the one thing I never really make at home. I think that’s because for most of my life my mom had forbidden me from making any red meat in our home, so I never dared (moms can be scary when you don’t listen!)—hah! Either way, if I’m out at a restaurant and lamb chops are on the menu, you better believe that is what I am going to order! And just in case there are no lamb chops, then lamb burgers are definitely the way to go!
I love lamb burgers so I wanted to make one that had some Mediterranean flair because those flavors are incredibly bright and zesty paired with the savoriness of lamb.
If you’ve never had tzatziki (get acquainted because that’s pretty much the king of this dish), then think of it as the greek cousin of raita! LOL! I added some feta into mine because I love cheese and I didn’t want to ruin these Mediterranean lamb burgers with the sliced stuff!
In a food processor or blender, combine the parsley, mint, garlic, serrano peppers, and oregano. Blend until well mixed.
Add blended herbs, coriander, cumin, salt and lemon juice to the ground lamb and mix gently using your hand.
Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat and add 1-2 tbsp oil. Form lamb mixture into patties and grill or cook on a skillet for 6-8 minutes on each side for a fully cooked burger. (cook less if you prefer medium/medium well).
Place patty on a grilled bun, top with tzatziki sauce, sliced onions, tomatoes and serve hot!
Palak Patel is a passionate home cook and food blogger who has an affinity towards creating dishes that provide a fresh and modern take on the familiar flavors of Indian cooking. Her belief that food can empower us, heal us, and most importantly connect us, is the driving force behind her blog. She especially loves sharing recipes that incorporate global flavors with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients.
January 3, 2023January 10, 2023 3min readBy Subrina Singh
Curried Chicken with Roti Parata or Roti, popular Middle Eastern/Indian cuisine
It is officially that time of year—the holiday season. There’s nothing like Christmas and New Year’s in the West Indies. Between the pepperpot in Guyana and the palm trees decorated in lights in Trinidad, the home food, warm weather and laid-back ambiance makes us wish we could escape the cold and head back to the Caribbean. Most of us, however, cannot “take holiday” and find ourselves hungry for fresh dhal puri and doubles. But, thanks to these Indo-Caribbean food bloggers, we can bring the motherland to our kitchens.
From Diwali mithai specialties to curry chicken, Matthew is creating a name for himself as a young Guyanese food blogger. He makes a great effort to incorporate Hindu holidays and traditions on his Instagram account, in conjunction with the customary foods and sweets associated with these religious events. However, his expertise does not end there, with new and alternative recipes for classic dishes such as curry chicken and bhara, Matthew takes center stage sharing both traditional Guyanese dishes as well as specific religious dishes made for festivals. His most popular YouTube video, with 1.4 million views, features his grandmother and focuses on the best tips to make the softest Guyanese paratha roti. In addition, his YouTube account is home to many videos offering guidance to Indo Caribbean cooking. Find recipes at @mattews.guyanese.cooking
Natasha Laggan of Trini Cooking with Natasha is wildly popular throughout the Caribbean and the U.S. With humble beginnings, Natasha credits her love of food to her family’s business. She speaks of the nostalgia home food provides her as she reminisces memories of her grandmother’s cooking and helping her mother make sandwiches early in the morning. Featured by Forbes, Natasha grew her Facebook following quickly throughout the pandemic by posting old YouTube videos. Today, she has more than 1 million followers on Facebook and over 200K followers on YouTube. She uses her passion for cooking and Trinidadian culture to bring easy-to-follow recipes to viewers. Her following has now reached the West Indian diaspora globally as she has also become a brand ambassador to two well-known food companies. Follow the food expert @trinicookingwithnatasha.
With over 100K followers on YouTube, Ria is quite the expert when it comes to making roti. Her dhal puri, sada roti and paratha roti tutorials have over 1M views! However, her expertise does not stop there. Of the 180 YouTube tutorials, her recipes vary from curry to other Trinidadian favorites like macaroni pie and pigtail soup. Just scrolling through her YouTube page makes your mouth water. From doubles to classic Trinidad bakes like pound cake and sweet bread, she provides precision and anecdotal commentary while guiding you through the familiarity of home food. Check out Ria’s page at @cookingwithria.
Known as Chef Devan, Devan Rajkumar embraces his Guyanese Canadian heritage by creating recipes combining flavors of both the East and West Indies. His love of food has allowed him to expand his role to judge in a popular Canadian cooking show: Food Network Canada’s Fire Masters. His cooking often blends the flavors of multiple cultures but also creates the classic recipes of his motherland. With a multitude of interests, Chef Dev uses his social media platform to connect with followers by sharing various aspects of his life that go beyond cooking. His most recent YouTube video provides a trailer for an upcoming video “Tastes Guyana” which shows him exploring Guyana from the inside, specifically deep parts of the inner country. To learn more about Chef Devan follow @chefdevan.
Reshmi is the chef behind the growing blog, Taste of Trinbago. A Trinidadian native who now resides in Texas, she uses her love of food and Trinidadian culture to share hacks, tips and easy recipes with West Indians throughout the globe. She finds a way to simplify traditional West Indian meals, that we once watched our elders make with curiosity. From holiday specialties like black cake to Diwali delicacies, Reshmi has brought vegetarian and non-veg recipes to followers in an extremely accessible way. She even posts recipe cards on her IG highlights for followers who may need written instructions. Her IG profile is a mix of various West Indian foods while also sharing bits of her life and even her secrets to baby food. Follow her @tasteoftrinbago.
These are just five Indo Caribbean food bloggers sharing their secrets to easy cooking. The once very daunting recipes and food instructions our parents gave have been simplified by most of these bloggers through video, voice over and modernized recipes. We no longer have to estimate a “dash, pinch or tuk” of any masala. We are just days away from Christmas and this is the perfect time to find the best-suited recipe to make that paratha for Santa.
Palak Patel is a passionate home cook and food blogger who has an affinity towards creating dishes that provide a fresh and modern take on the familiar flavors of Indian cooking. Her belief that food can empower us, heal us, and most importantly connect us, is the driving force behind her blog. She especially loves sharing recipes that incorporate global flavors with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients.
