Masala Chicken Burgers

It's been a while since I made these now. Over a month really. Somehow, I got too carried away posting cakes and bakes and these drool-worthy fellas sat on the back burners, awaiting their chance to get published on SSTT.

Would'nt it be a shame on me if I had not tried making burgers at home living in the country that almost eats them as a staple meal? What had me running to fetch the ingredients for the same was the show - The Next Food Network Star. Why? This showcased competitors (chefs or otherwise) who'd compete to win a show on the network. Nice, eh? I had my eyes on one participant - Aarti Sequiera, an Indian, who was mixing Indian flavours onto American classics with so much ease, that I simply HAD to do something on those lines at home. Thanks Aarti, for the inspiration! The outcome - Juicy Indo-American Chicken Burgers! Oh and yes Aarti won the challenge and hosts her show on Food Network. She's already had 3 episodes on TV and she sure rocks! Check out her page here. And, when you're done, read up my recipe!

Now, stop drooling and grab those ingredients. This one's so easy, you could be eating it even before you think.




Ingredients
1 lb Ground Chicken
1 Cup Onion, minced
2 Celery stalks, finely chopped
8 Garlic pods, minced
1 inch Ginger piece, grated
1/2 Cup Fresh coriander, finely chopped
4 green chillies, finely chopped (Adjust number of chillies according to your needs)
1 Bay leaf
2 Cloves
1 tsp Garam Masala
1 tsp Red chillie powder or chillie flakes
3 tbsp Olive oil (Or any other cooking oil)
And, of course, some salt to taste!

Method
- In a wide, non-stick vessel pour oil and allow to heat
- Drop in the bay leaf
- Once it crackles, throw in the cloves
- Add chopped onions and fry for about a minute
- Toss in the green chillies, ginger, garlic and fry
- Once all these ingredients seem cooked, add the red chillie powder and garam masala powder and stir for about a minute on low flame so that the spices do not burn
- Drop in the chopped celery and coriander and stir fry for another minute
- Turn off flame and yank out the bay leaf so that you dont end up having the whole leaf in any of your burgers
- Place the ground chicken in a large prepartion bowl
- Add the prepared 'masala' to the ground chicken
- Add salt
- Mix well
- Make round burgers/patties the width of the buns you have on hand. Do not make them too thick else they will not cook in the center
- Heat about 2 tsp of oil on a non-stick griddle (you can even use a stove-top grill pan if you have one) and fry burgers until fully cooked
- Add more oil on the burgers as they cook, if needed
- Drain away any excess oil after they are done by placing cooked burgers on paper towel

Makes over a dozen delicious burgers! (Mine were about 3 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick)

Stack them up along with red onions, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, mayo and the works. Serve 'em with or without fries and down them with a chilled glass of lemonade! Satisfaction guarenteed!