This week, Louisa Shafia is serving as a Guest Editor at Food52. She'll be choosing a Wildcard winner, answering your questions on the Hotline, and sharing recipes from her new book, The New Persian Kitchen -- because your kitchen deserves a taste of the exotic every once in a while.

These scarlet burgers can be served on top of grains or salad, eaten like latkes or falafel, or tucked into a bun. My favorite way to eat them is topped with yogurt, a fragrant mound of dill, and a simple chopped tomato and cucumber relish -- perfect for summer.
The burger mixture can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
Sweet and Smoky Beet Burgers
Makes 8 burgers
1 yellow onion
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil, plus extra for searing
1 cup peeled and grated beets (approximately 1 small beet)
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup golden raisins
2 teaspoons sweet smoked paprika
1/2 cup cooked green lentils, rinsed and drained
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups cooked short-grain brown rice or white sushi rice, at room temperature
1 egg
See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.
Photo by Sara Remington for The New Persian Kitchen by Louisa Shafia
Want tips from Louisa on where to find Persian ingredients or how to achieve the perfect balance of sweet and sour? She'll be answering questions on our Hotline today, Wednesday, June 19, from 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST. Mark your calendars, and join the conversation!
I'm fascinated by the way food connects us with different times, places, and each other. I live in Nashville, TN, a city rich with culinary traditions and a fast growing immigrant population. As Culinary Liaison for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, I organize events that unite people around food and spotlight the work of immigrant chefs. My cookbook The New Persian Kitchen is a winner of Food52's Piglet award. I love cooking Iranian rice and hearing people crunch on the crispy tahdig from the bottom of the pot. Find my Persian Rice Bonnet and Persian Spice Kit on my website and on Etsy.
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