Sliders with avocado and roasted red salsa

(Serves 12)

Sliders, a popular bar snack at the moment, are simply miniature hamburgers which are ideal as pre-dinner appetisers, or make them full-size for a more substantial meal. In this case, the quantities given will make four burgers. In this recipe, the soft cheese enriches the meat and keeps it moist.

Salsa:
2 sweet red peppers, roasted, peeled, seeded and diced
3 large ripe tomatoes, roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped
Grated zest of a lemon or lime
1 or 2 tablespoons sugar
1 ripe avocado, peeled and diced
1 green, or red, chilli – to taste, seeded and finely chopped
Gozo sea salt – to taste

Mix all the ingredients, and put to one side while you make the sliders.

Sliders:
600 g lean minced raw beef
4 heaped tablespoons soft white breadcrumbs
100 g feta cheese, or ġbejniet, crumbled or grated
Freshly ground black pepper

Mix all the ingredients together, shape into small burgers, and grill, bake, or fry.

Serve on miniature buns or between lightly toasted rounds of bread, cut to fit the mini burgers, with lettuce, mayonnaise, pickles, coleslaw and the salsa served on the side.