These are like a really easy, really tasty mini chicken burger. Chicken seasoning is a simple way to add loads of flavour; you can buy branded or supermarket own-brand versions – find it with the jars of herbs and spices. Also, when you don’t have any fresh herbs, using mint sauce is a great way to make a cheat’s tzatziki.
Chicken Smash Patties & 3-Minute Tzatziki
Serves 4
Ingredients
- Oil, for frying
- 6 spring onions (scallions), green and white parts very finely chopped
- 500g (1lb 2oz) chicken mince (ground chicken)
- 2 Tbsp chicken seasoning
- Handful of plain (all-purpose) flour
- Sesame seeds
- 4 flatbreads
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh parsley leaves, to serve
- Lettuce leaves, to serve
For the Cheat’s Tzatziki
- ½ cucumber, skin-on
- 120g (4¼oz) Greek yoghurt
- 1 Tbsp mint sauce
Method
1. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large, non-stick frying pan (skillet). Add the spring onion to the pan and fry for 2 minutes until softened.
2. Meanwhile, put the chicken mince in a mixing bowl with the chicken seasoning, and season with salt and pepper. Add the fried spring onions and give it a really good stir.
3. Wipe the pan with paper towel to get rid of the last of the onion and add a good glug of oil. Heat until it’s gently sizzling.
4. Scatter the flour on the worktop and take a meatball-sized ball of the mince (you can use an ice-cream scoop to ensure the balls are the same size). Roll it in the flour, before pressing it down so it’s about 1cm (½in) thick. Repeat until all of the mince is used.
5. Place 6 patties in the pan and fry over a medium heat for 5–7 minutes, turning occasionally, until cooked.
6. Meanwhile, make the tzatziki. Chop the cucumber into 1cm (½in) cubes and place in a bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper, before stirring in the yoghurt and mint sauce until thoroughly combined.
7. When cooked, take the chicken patties from the pan, place them on paper towel and sprinkle them with a few sesame seeds. Fry the remaining patties in batches, until they are all cooked. Drain on paper towel and sprinkle with sesame seeds as before.
8. Warm the flatbreads through for a minute or two before topping with the tzatziki, parsley, lettuce and the patties.
Tips & Swaps
• You can swap the chicken seasoning for Cajun seasoning if you prefer a bit of heat.
• Swap the chicken mince for pork mince if you like; the chicken seasoning still works really well!
• These work as mini chicken burgers. Just add them to slider buns with salad and sauces. Perfect for a picky tea!
Extracted from Speedy 10 by Amy Sheppard (Quadrille, £22). Photography by Dan Jones.