Grilled Spinach Feta and Kalamata Chicken Patties with Creamy Harissa Sauce

This is my second entry for the Stella Rosa wines recipe contest and it is a stunner! Super simple to make, only 12 ingredients and BIG on flavor! Lean ground chicken is packed with fresh spinach, crumbled feta and kalamata olives then grilled and served with grilled lemon and a spicy creamy sauce. What's not to love?! 

These are fabulous as-is but equally good next to a salad, with rice or wrapped in a tortilla. I always make the mixture and form the patties in the morning and place them on a wax paper lined cookie sheet so they're ready to be cooked when we are but they're so quick to throw together they can easily be made and cooked in less than 30 minutes!

If you're not familiar, harissa is a North African chile paste that happens to be one of my favorite new finds! If you can't find it, no worries, just sub sriracha or chili garlic paste but I promise you, if you make the effort to get some it'll be well worth it!  

Grilled Spinach Feta and Kalamata Chicken Patties with Creamy Harissa Sauce

4 cups fresh spinach, finely chopped 

1 cup feta cheese crumbles 

½ cup diced kalamata olives 

2-pounds ground chicken 

1 teaspoon garlic salt 

1 teaspoon pepper 

1 Tablespoon harissa 

½ cup marinated roasted red bell peppers 

½ teaspoon cumin 

1/3 cup mayonnaise 

1/8 cup Greek yogurt 

1 lemon 

Heat a gas grill to medium high heat.

 In a large mixing bowl, combine the spinach, feta, olives, ground chicken, garlic salt and pepper. Form into 8 equal sized patties and set on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet to chill in the fridge.

 In a mini food processor or blender puree the harissa, roasted red bell peppers, cumin, mayonnaise and Greek yogurt until smooth. Set in the fridge to chill.

 Slice the lemon in half and place on the hottest part of your grill, cut side down. Allow the lemon halves to get well charred and remove from the heat. Place the patties on the grill, cover and allow to cook 5-6 minutes, flip and continue to cook for 4-5 minutes, or until patties are fully cooked through.

 Squeeze the grilled lemon over the patties and serve with dipping sauce.