What to Cook Tonight #96

Juicy Lamb Smashburgers with Tzatziki, a Super Spinach Shakshuka, and easy Weeknight Pasta with Fennel, Sardines & Lemon.

We are very excited about this week’s recipes, inspired by the simple and satisfying flavours of Greece and Turkey. For many summers, we would spend a couple of weeks as a family in this delicious pocket of the globe — and the food culture has remained a firm favourite for us both ever since.

The Turkey/Greece culinary overlap is murky as best, with regions in the Aegean still contested and neighborly relations perpetually frosty. Despite centuries of conflict and competition, these two ancient nations have quite a lot of overlap in their food cultures, due to their shared history, geography, and cultural exchanges.

From Greece, we have distinctly Mediterranean flavours — simple and fresh dishes that rely on a handful of ingredients, whilst neighbouring Turkey lends warming spices and specialty ingredients from Central Asia and the Middle East.

Turkey has their raki, while Greece has its ouzo; Turkey is beloved for their börek, as is Greece for its spanakopita; and baklava is native to both. Much like the great pavlova debate, we will never really know where some things originated from.

Lamb Smashburgers with Tzatziki & Herbs

With this in mind, our first recipe is for Lamb Smashburgers with Tzatziki & Herbs. This incredibly delicious recipe combines the best parts of American hamburgers, Greek gyros, and