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Bifteki gemisto
Feta-stuffed beef patties
Bifteki gemisto: Greek oregano beef patties stuffed with melting feta
In Greek grill houses (psistaries) and in summer back gardens, bifteki are big, flattened patties of minced beef with grated onion, mint and oregano, and the stuffed version hides a slab of feta that melts as they cook. Serve with chips fried in olive oil, a village salad and tzatziki. Common mistake: using lean mince, which makes dry patties; 15–20 % fat keeps them juicy. Chef's tip: grate the onion and squeeze out its juice before mixing; you keep the flavour without making the mixture too wet to seal around the cheese.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb beef mince15–20 % fat
- 1 oniongrated and squeezed
- 1 clove garlicgrated
- 2 ⅛ oz stale white breadcrusts off, soaked in water and squeezed
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- ⅓ oz fresh mintfinely chopped
- ⅓ oz flat-leaf parsleyfinely chopped
- 1 ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 5 ½ oz fetacut into 4 slabs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Combine 1 ½ lb beef mince, 1 onion, 1 clove garlic, 2 ⅛ oz stale white bread, 1 egg, 2 tsp dried oregano, ⅓ oz fresh mint, ⅓ oz flat-leaf parsley, 1 ¼ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper and knead with your hands for 2 minutes until sticky. Chill for 30 minutes so it firms up.
30 minStep 2: Divide into 8 portions and flatten each into a 1 cm thick oval. Lay a slab of 5 ½ oz feta on 4 of them, cover with the others and pinch the edges firmly to seal.
Step 3: Heat a griddle pan or barbecue to medium-high and brush the patties with 2 tbsp olive oil.
Step 4: Cook for 6–7 minutes a side, turning once, until well browned and the meat reaches 160°F in the centre of the mince (not the cheese). Rest for 3 minutes before serving.
14 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Protein
- 42 g
- Carbs
- 10 g
- Fat
- 35 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bifteki gemisto take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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