Lamb Biftekia with Anchovy, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Mint Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Anchovy

by: Alexandra V. Jones

February20,2014

4.4

5 Ratings

  • Serves 2 to 3

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

Biftekia is basically the Greek word for burger. After I graduated high school in 1999 my parents took myself and my sisters to Greece and I ate this several times, usually made with ground lamb, these were often served on skewers and served with different condiments. I decided to try my hand at my own version of these, which are similar to meatballs or meatloaf, I used American ground lamb and combined it with a few other seasonings. For my sauce I used another flavor packed pantry item….ANCHOVIES! Packed in olive oil and salt these lil’ babies can add umami flavor and depth to many dishes. Anchovies are not just for pizza, they are a great way to add the salt element to a dish, and I used mint, lemon, capers and sundried tomatoes to round out the flavors and served with the lamb biftekia it balanced out perfectly. Similar to the use of the condiment Nuoc Cham in Vietnamese cooking, this condiment can be used with a variety of roasted meat, veggies, or even as a topping for pasta. —Alexandra V. Jones

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Alexandra V. Jones is a kitchen ninja living in Portland.
WHAT: A cross between a burger and a kebab, with some addictive stuff to dip it in.
HOW: Mix ground lamb with alliums and spices; shape onto skewers; grill. Mix together an herb-y, anchovy-y sauce. Dip and devour.
WHY WE LOVE IT: In the summer, it's easy to get into a grilling rut -- to make steaks and burgers and vegetables and forget about all the other good stuff that you can throw on there. These skewers are a great way to switch up your grilling game -- lamb! spices! skewers! -- and we'd eat that sauce on pretty much anything. —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • For anchovy sauce
  • 3 olive oil-packed anchovy fillets
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 teaspoonssugar
  • 2 teaspoonsBragg’s liquid aminos (you can use soy, I would suggest temari for this)
  • 1/4 cupfresh mint
  • 1/4 cupfresh parsley
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 2 tablespoonsapple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoonshot water
  • 2 teaspoonscapers
  • 2 tablespoonsoil-packed sundried tomatoes, chopped
  • Lamb biftekia
  • 3/4 poundground lamb
  • 1/4 cupminced onion
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/4 teaspooncumin
  • 1/4 teaspooncinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoonkosher salt
  • 1 teaspoonground black pepper
  • 1 pinchred pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoonfresh, chopped parsley
  • 6 bamboo skewers
Directions
  1. Make sauce by combining all sauce ingredients. I like to use a mortar and pestle for this to keep a more rustic texture—you can use a blender or food processor but just pulse a few times. Combine anchovies, garlic, sugar, sun-dried tomatoes, mint and parsley, muddle until it forms a thick paste, add the rest of ingredients, and stir to combine. This can be made up to a week in advance and kept in the fridge.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix meat with other ingredients, portion into six logs. Wrap the meat mixture around skewers.
  3. Grill 4 minutes flip, cook another 3 minutes or so until firm. I used my indoor grill pan—you can also do these under a broiler, just watch closely to not over cook.
  4. Serve with anchovy sauce.

Tags:

  • Skewer
  • Kebab
  • Greek
  • Anchovy
  • Tomato
  • Lamb
  • Mint
  • Parsley
  • Appetizer
  • Entree
  • Hors D'Oeuvre
Contest Entries
  • Your Best Recipe with Anchovies

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Aspenglow

  • Shalini

  • Chef Devaux

  • Michelle Sweeney

  • The Pontificator

Recipe by: Alexandra V. Jones

Chef de cuisine @Shelburne hotel Seaview, WA

Popular on Food52

29 Reviews

I made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious! I added 1/4 cup of cilantro to the sauce because it needed to be used, otherwise followed the recipe to the letter. I will make this again and again.

Alexandra V. April 13, 2021

I am so pleased you like it! The cilantro sounds great! Happy cooking! Thanks for the positive feedback!

Aspenglow July 21, 2019

Fabulous recipe! It definitely has ALL the yummy flavors. Thanks!

Alexandra V. April 13, 2021

Thanks so much! I’m pleased you like it!

Shalini July 12, 2016

We had this for dinner tonight, and loved it! I added about two teaspoons of cumin to the meat, and a teaspoon of cinnamon, and subbed in half a big french shallot for the onion. Also, ponzu sauce instead of soy for the dipping sauce as my fridge is too packed. Served with dolmades as an appetizer, and quinoa with sugar snap peas. Thank you for a wonderful recipe.

Chef D. November 20, 2015

oh yes!

erin April 28, 2015

Beautiful and easy. I don't eat meat myself, but I happily dribbled the sauce over my tragic veggie sausage, and the lamb got enthusiastic-mouths-full compliments from the omnivores. And perhaps best of all: it struck me that the leftover sauce (there was a lot) would be a good base for a Puttanesca-ish pasta sauce. I softened a leftover lump of onion with a few more anchovy fillets, then added the sauce with a handful of chopped olives, a glug of red wine, some chilli flakes and fresh basil. Plenty of olive oil and parmesan to finish - couldn't have worked out better.

Alexandra V. April 13, 2021

Maybe it would be good using beyond meat? Thanks for the feedback!

Michelle S. April 15, 2015

I made this for my husband, he loved it, but I think the vining a was a bit overpowering. I don't eat red meat, but a Greek salad and some home made soft breadsticks made for a great dinner for both of us!

The P. April 13, 2015

I've made this before. 100% winner.

Alexandra V. April 13, 2015

Awesome! Glad it worked out so well!

bluechefk July 29, 2014

want to make these for a dinner party, but one single person who's coming doesn't like lamb - boo!!! would this be as good with another meat, do you think?

Alexandra V. July 29, 2014

I think this is honestly a great recipe to serve people who think they don't like lamb....but in all fairness you could sub any ground meat really....ground sirloin would be good, but you could go with pork or even turkey! If you do a variation let me know how it turned out!

bluechefk July 29, 2014

i couldn't agree with you more re: lamb, but this one friend is veeerrrrrry picky. going to make half with lamb and half with sirloin, and will let people take what they want. am certain it will be delicious either way - thank you!

Alexandra V. July 29, 2014

Happy cooking!!! Cheers!

Flirty F. July 17, 2014

How did you know that I love all things LAMB! Can't wait to try this one.

Ara W. July 3, 2014

this is wonderful! i had to work with what i had so i took out the lemon and liquid amino and added a dash of Mirin.

i went completly off the handle and served with a Hyderabandi Biryani seasoned long grain rice and a sauteed summer squash --i know this may not be what you had in mind in Greece but its amazing!

EmilyC June 15, 2014

Made these last night and loved them! They were simple to prepare and so flavorful! This sweet rice (https://food52.com/recipes/22552-sweet-rice-with-carrots-and-nuts) made a lovely pairing.

aubrey |. June 11, 2014

just made these and they turned out amazing! i think i'd use a different vinegar or maybe less, since it seems pretty vinegary but i really loved all the flavors!!

Alexandra V. June 12, 2014

Totally, make it to your tastes, choose your own adventure! Red wine vinegar would work, but if you find it too vinegary maybe you would prefer using the juice of one lemon?

Alexandra V. June 12, 2014

Does that make sense, sorry....so use two lemons and cut the vinegar...I think that would give you enough acid...

aubrey |. June 16, 2014

I'll give that a try next time!

frog May 29, 2014

Small note: it is tamari.

Alexandra V. May 29, 2014

Yes, apparently "Temari" is an anime character and he me may be a tough ingredient to find! I will edit that.

Georgia V. May 28, 2014

Wonderful recipe!

Alexandra V. May 29, 2014

Thanks buddy!

Alexandra V. May 28, 2014

Wow! Thanks so much! This recipe is damn tasty so I gotta say the wildcard jury has great taste!! Woot Woot!

aargersi May 28, 2014

Congrats - absolutely love lamb and this looks like a great one!

Alexandra V. May 29, 2014

Thank you!

Lamb Biftekia with Anchovy, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Mint Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

How to cook with dry sundried tomatoes? ›

The oil-packed ones just need to be drained. My current favorite way to use sun-dried tomatoes is in risotto. Slice them thin and add them with the rice—you can even use the hydrating liquid as part of your cooking liquid if you used dry-packed ones.

How to make sun dried tomatoes Martha Stewart? ›

Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees with racks in upper and lower thirds. ...
  2. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until tomatoes are dry (but not crisp) and wrinkled, about 3 1/2 hours. ...
  3. Transfer tomatoes to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet; freeze until firm.
May 16, 2017

Do you have to soak sun-dried tomatoes before eating? ›

Soak if: They're dry-packed: Dry-packed tomatoes are the most concentrated in flavor but also the toughest. Soaking them in water, broth, or even wine for 20-30 minutes plumps them up and makes them easier to chop or eat.

What can I do with a jar of sundried tomatoes? ›

Sundried tomato recipes
  1. Tuna & sundried tomato pasta bake. ...
  2. Asparagus, sundried tomato & olive loaf. ...
  3. Gluten-free sundried tomato bread. ...
  4. App onlySlow-roasted lemon & tomato butter Savoy with garlic & dill yogurt. ...
  5. App onlyAglio e olio with sundried tomato breadcrumbs. ...
  6. Sundried tomato soda bread baps. ...
  7. Tomato & basil soup.

What is the best oil to use for sun-dried tomatoes? ›

Because the recipe has very few ingredients, be sure you have good-quality sun-dried tomatoes—organic is preferable—and a good-quality extra-virgin olive oil as the oil infuses the tomatoes with flavor, so the better the quality, the better taste they'll have.

How long do homemade sun-dried tomatoes last? ›

The best way to store homemade sun-dried tomatoes is in a clean, tightly sealed jar packed in olive oil in the refrigerator. You can throw in a few cloves of garlic for extra flavor. This way, the sun-dried tomatoes will last for up to two months — and you'll have a delicious infused oil to use when you're done.

What are the best tomatoes for sun-dried tomatoes? ›

Plum, oval or pear-shaped Italian, Roma or paste tomatoes are best for drying. A food dehydrator is the best options for drying tomatoes. Sun or air drying is not a viable option for Minnesota's high summer humidity levels.

What is the best way to use sun-dried tomatoes? ›

Use sun dried tomatoes to jazz up sauces, dips, appetizers, pastas, soups and more! And, be sure not to toss the oil that the tomatoes are stored in. It's great added to salad dressings, or use it to saute some onions, garlic or shallots, before adding them to recipes.

Are you supposed to cook sun-dried tomatoes? ›

Editor: Rachel, if the tomatoes are dried and not packed in oil, then yes, we like to chop them and let them steep in hot water or wine, then drain them before using. But if they are packed in oil, then we use them straight (and a bit of the oil, too! It's great for tossing with pasta).

Can you pan fry sun-dried tomatoes? ›

Bring a large frying pan to medium-high heat, then add 3 tbsp of the sundried tomato oil. Add onion and garlic and fry for about 2 minutes until softened. Add sun-dried tomatoes and gnocchi and fry on medium-high heat for about 6-8 minutes from each side until the gnocchi become golden in colour.

Can you cook with the oil from sun-dried tomatoes? ›

Dried tomatoes in oil can be used on pizza, pasta salads, appetizers, and Italian dishes. The oil can be used in vinaigrette dressing, or in a marinade sauce. It can also be used as a dip for French bread.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

Last Updated:

Views: 6567

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

Birthday: 1999-09-15

Address: 8416 Beatty Center, Derekfort, VA 72092-0500

Phone: +6838967160603

Job: Mining Executive

Hobby: Woodworking, Knitting, Fishing, Coffee roasting, Kayaking, Horseback riding, Kite flying

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Refugio Daniel, I am a fine, precious, encouraging, calm, glamorous, vivacious, friendly person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.