Chicken Burgers with Spicy Barbecue-Yoghurt Sauce

I thought I'd make you some chicken burgers. It's been a whole month since my last chicken burger adventure and a month is a long time without a chicken burger fix.

Chicken Burgers with Spicy Barbecue-Yoghurt Sauce

Makes 8

For the Burgers:
1kg ground chicken
Small bunch chives, finely chopped
2 Jalapenos
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs (I used wholemeal bread)
Sea salt flakes, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste


Olive oil, for smearing
8 wholemeal burger buns
Shredded lettuce (I used Baby Cos Lettuce)
Grated cheddar cheese (I used white cheddar and yellow cheddar)
Sliced tomato

For the Spicy Barbecue-Yoghurt Sauce:
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup thick natural yoghurt (I used goat yoghurt)
Squeeze lime juice
1 clove garlic, crushed
Pinch cayenne pepper
Sea salt flakes

Make the Burgers:
Put a metal skewer through the jalapenos and light one of the gas burners on your stove to high. Hold the jalapenos over the flame, turning them so that they become blackened and charred all over. (If you don't have access to a naked flame, place the jalapenos under a hot grill (broiler) until blackened). Pop them into a bowl, cover with cling film and leave for 10 minutes. Take the jalapenos out of the bowl, and peel the blackened skin off. The skin should slide off easily. Cut the jalapenos in half, remove the seeds and finely chop the flesh.

Put all the ingredients for the burgers, including the chopped jalapenos, into a large mixing bowl and mix well. Divide the meat into eight equal portions and shape them into burgers. I use a large cookie cutter to form neat patties. Chill for 30 minutes

Heat a large grill pan, or barbecue grill/hot plate, to high. Smear the burgers with a little oil and place them on the pan or hot plate. Cook for about 3 minutes on one side then turn. Top with cheese and cook until done and the cheese has melted. You can finish them in a moderate oven or under the grill (broiler) to get the cheese the melt further if you wish.

Make the Spicy Barbecue-Yoghurt Sauce:
Put all the sauce ingredients in a blender and blitz until smooth.

Assemble the Burgers:
Split the burger buns and lightly toast. Place a burger on the bottom half of each bun. Top with the Spicy Barbecue-Yoghurt Sauce, a slice of tomato and a handful of shredded lettuce. Place the tops on the buns.