3 ways with Turkish pepper flakes

Also known as pul biber or aleppo pepper, this traditional condiment adds mild heat and warm peppery fruitiness to these easy dishes

- JOHN GREGORY-SMITH

1 Lamb and halloumi burgers

Sometimes, when I have people over for dinner, I don't want elegant. I want something delicious and casual that we can all dive into with our hands - that's the joy of a burger. My lamb burgers have a delicious twist: tiny cubes of halloumi mixed into the meat. The cheese seasons the lamb and melts as it cooks.

30 MINUTES SERVES 4 | EASY

lamb mince (15-20% fat) 500g

halloumi 100g, cut into 5mm cubes

dried mint 2 tsp

turkish pepper flakes 2 tsp

olive oil 1 tbsp

mayonnaise 100g

brioche burger buns 4

Little Gem lettuce 1, leaves picked oven chips to serve

PICKLED ONIONS

red onion 1, thinly sliced

lemon 1, juiced

1 Start with the pickled onions. Put the onion into a bowl and add the lemon juice, and a good pinch of salt. Mix well and leave, tossing occasionally, to macerate while you make the burgers.

2 To make the burgers, put the lamb into a bowl and add the halloumi, mint, pepper flakes and a good pinch of salt. Mix really well, then divide into four burgers, each about 8cm wide. Heat the oil in a non-stick pan over a medium-high heat and add the burgers. Give them a good squish down with a fish slice. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for a total of 3-4 minutes on each side, flipping every couple of minutes, until cooked through.

3 Generously spread the mayo over the bottom of each burger bun and layer up the lettuce, burgers and onions. Top with the bun lids and serve immediately with chips.