By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026

Serves 4
939 cal · 25 min
Spiced Beef Burger with Shaved Cucumber and Beet Salad
Recipe GLPRfbfbc454ef364c
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Average rating: 4.3 (1)
Juicy ground beef patties seasoned with cumin and garlic, grilled to perfection and served on ciabatta rolls. Topped with a vibrant harissa mayonnaise and fresh lettuce, these burgers are accompanied by a refreshing salad of thinly shaved cucumber and beets dressed with olive oil, sherry vinegar, and dill.
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Ingredients
½ cucumber, thinly sliced
1 small yellow beet, scrubbed and very thinly sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh dill
Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons harissa
1¼ pounds ground beef chuck
1½ teaspoons ground cumin
2 cloves garlic, pressed
4 ciabatta rolls, split
Lettuce leaves for serving
Canola oil for the grill
Directions
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and harissa until well combined. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the sliced cucumber, sliced beet, 2 tablespoons olive oil, sherry vinegar, and fresh dill. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently to coat and let sit while preparing the burgers.
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground cumin, pressed garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined—do not overwork the meat. Divide into 4 equal portions and form each into a patty about 3/4 inch thick. Make a shallow indent in the center of each patty with your thumb.
Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill grates with canola oil.
Place the beef patties on the hot grill and cook without moving them for 4 to 5 minutes, until the bottoms are nicely browned. Flip the patties and cook for an additional 4 to 5 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Toast the ciabatta rolls cut-side down on the grill for about 1 to 2 minutes until lightly golden.
Spread the harissa mayonnaise on the bottom half of each toasted ciabatta roll. Layer a few lettuce leaves, then top with a cooked beef patty. Cover with the top half of the roll.
Serve each burger immediately with a generous portion of the cucumber and beet salad on the side.
Comments
Harissa is the only ingredient requiring a dedicated stop—Food Lion and Harris Teeter carry it, but ALDI and Walmart rarely stock it reliably, so budget time for that hunt. The burger itself costs roughly $2.50 per serving for ground beef and the ciabatta roll, then add another $0.75 for the salad components (cucumber, beets, dill), landing around $3.25 total per serving, which is fair for a composed meal. The stated 25 minutes ignores the time to shave cucumber and beets thin and to cook four burgers properly without rushing; plan closer to 35 minutes, or prep the salad earlier in the day. This is a same-night dish—reheating a burger is a waste—and it reads more restaurant than weeknight, so it suits a planned dinner rather than a quick weekday scramble, though the components are straightforward enough for a cook of any skill.
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