Moroccan Style Hamburger Recipe

By
Christine Benlafquih
Christine Benlafquih
Christine Benlafquih
Christine Benlafquih is a freelance writer and cooking class instructor with a background in Moroccan cuisine.
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Updated on 05/4/22
burger with tomato
Matilda Lindeblad/Stock Food Creative/Getty Images
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Resting time: 60 mins
Total: 85 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 8 hamburgers
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
316 Calories
20g Fat
1g Carbs
31g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 316
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 25%
Saturated Fat 7g 37%
Cholesterol 101mg 34%
Sodium 502mg 22%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 3mg 15%
Calcium 42mg 3%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 475mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Ground beef is rarely cooked without seasoning in Morocco, even when shaping kefta into large patties to serve as hamburgers. The addition of Moroccan spices and herbs to the meat helps transform a routine hamburger into a memorable meal. Grilling the meat will add even more flavor.

The recipe below reflects my preference for reducing standard kefta seasoning by about half when serving hamburgers with American toppings on soft rolls. If you'd like to try more intense Moroccan seasoning, follow the Kefta Kebabs Recipe and shape the meat into patties.

Serve the Moroccan hamburgers on Homemade Hamburger Rolls or Moroccan khobz with lettuce, tomato, and other toppings. Some suggestions are:

For best flavor, allow time for the seasoned hamburger mix to rest before cooking. It can be prepared a day in advance.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds (950 grams) ground beef, or half lamb, if desired

  • 1 small onion, grated

  • 2 cloves garlic, grated, optional

  • 4 tablespoons chopped parsley

  • 2 teaspoons paprika

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or cayenne pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Mix all the ingredients together, kneading the mixture for a minute or two to evenly distribute the spices and herbs.

  2. Cover and leave the seasoned ground beef to rest for an hour or longer before cooking.

  3. Shape the meat into patties and grill over hot coals, turning once. (If you prefer, you can cook the hamburgers under a broiler, on a grill pan, or in a regular frying pan.) ​

  4. Serve immediately with your choice of toppings.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.