Samosa-Spiced Burgers

Name: Samosa-Spiced Burgers
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Tanzanian
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt, divided; Freshly cracked black pepper; 1 pound (455 g) ground beef (80:20 lean-to-fat ratio); 1 pound (455 g) ground beef (80:20 lean-to-fat ratio); 1 small garlic clove, peeled; 1 green Bird’s-eye chili,* seeds removed; ¼ cup (10 g) loosely packed fresh mint leaves*; ¼ cup (10 g) packed fresh cilantro leaves*; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice*; ¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided; Garam masala, use another savory spice blend or aromatic single ground spice, like cumin; Garam masala, use another savory spice blend or aromatic single ground spice, like cumin; Garam masala, use another savory spice blend or aromatic single ground spice, like cumin; Garam masala, use another savory spice blend or aromatic single ground spice, like cumin; Bird’s-eye chili, use ½ jalapeño with seeds; Bird’s-eye chili, use ½ jalapeño with seeds; Cilantro, use more mint or other tender herb, like dill or parsley; Cilantro, use more mint or other tender herb, like dill or parsley; Cilantro, use more mint or other tender herb, like dill or parsley; Cilantro, use more mint or other tender herb, like dill or parsley; Lemon juice, use lime juice; Lemon juice, use lime juice; Yellow onion, use sweet or red onion; Yellow onion, use sweet or red onion; Yellow onion, use sweet or red onion; Pepper Jack cheese, use American cheese or cheddar cheese; Pepper Jack cheese, use American cheese or cheddar cheese; Pepper Jack cheese, use American cheese or cheddar cheese; Potato buns, use sesame or brioche buns

Preparation info

Serves
4

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
45 min

Appears in

Third Culture Cooking

By Zaynab Issa

Published 2025

About

I’ve already mentioned the star power samosas possess (see Samosas Two Ways), so translating those flavors into a main dish is a no-brainer. Here, garam masala and salt season classic smashburger patties before they get a quick sear in a very hot pan. The technique for this burger is borrowed from Oklahoma-style smashburgers, where very thinly sliced onions are adhered directly onto the burger balls, then frizzled in the beefy, fatty drippings from the mea

Ingredients

Sub-Saharan Africa
Tanzania
Main course
Snack
Gluten-free

Ingredients

Method