There’s no excuse to skip out on these ostrich burgers with fried onions when they bring the local flavour and only take 20 minutes!

MAKES 4 // COOKING TIME 20 min

INGREDIENTS
For the fried onions
½ cup flour
¼ tsp baking powder
1½ tbsp milk
½ egg, beaten
½ onion, thinly sliced
For the pesto sauce
⅓  cup basil pesto
⅓  cup plain yoghurt
3 tbsp mayonnaise
4½ tbsp chopped rocket
½ tsp chilli flakes
1⅓ cup shredded cabbage
For the ostrich burgers
4 paninis, halved
4 ostrich patties, fried
4 slices cheese
8 gherkins, sliced
125 g potato or veggie chips

METHOD
For the fried onions
1. Heat oil in a pot over medium heat, enough to deep-fry.
2. Mix the flour and baking powder together and season.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the milk and egg together.
4. Dip the onions in the egg mixture and then coat in flour.
5. Carefully fry until crispy and golden brown.
For the pesto sauce
1. Mix all the ingredients together.
For the ostrich burgers
1. Spoon some pesto sauce onto one half of each panini and top with a burger patty, cheese, gherkins and crispy onions.
2. Sandwich closed and serve the chips on the side.

Recipe & styling: Kate Turner
Photography: Samantha Pinto // HMimages.co.za

Have a keen taste for this bird? This ostrich lasagne gives us all the reasons why local is lekker!