Although I do love my turkey and bison burgers, I have recently started to test out a few different burger options that are meat-free…so all of you vegetarians out there—Read On!
Chickpea Vegetable Burger
- 1 Can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 3 Tsp. minced garlic or 1 clove chopped
- 3 Tsp. chopped cilantro
- 2 Tsp. almond butter (you can use any seed/nut butter of choice)
- A few dashes of NuSalt (salt-free salt) and pepper
- 1 Cup fresh spinach
- 1 Tsp. Miso
- 1 Tsp. Ground flax seed (can also use wheat germ)
Combine the above ingredients into a food processor and blend until the mixture thickens-be careful to not “over-blend” until mixture is smooth.
Place mixture in fridge for 30 minutes to firm and chill.
Remove from fridge. Form mixture into patties or balls, whichever you prefer. Spray nonstick cooking spray onto a skillet and cook patties over medium heat for approximately 5 minutes- then flip for another 5 minutes on the other side.
Serve onto toasted buns or English muffins with kale, onion, sprouts and tomatoes! Top with SoyaKass Gluten Free/ Lactose Free Cheddar Cheese. Use condiments of your choice.
Black Bean Burgers
- 1 Can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 2 Tsp. Amy’s Organic Salsa (Bean and Corn flavor)
- 1 cup crushed Bran crackers (you can also use bran cereals)
- 1 Tsp. Wheat germ
- 1/4 cup pine nuts (mashed) (you can use any nut/seed you prefer)
- 2 Tsp. Cilantro
- A Dash of Nu-Salt (Salt-free salt) and pepper
Simply mash the above ingredients together into patties or ball forms, whichever you prefer. Spray nonstick cooking sheet with cooking spray and place burgers onto sheet.
Bake at 425 degrees for 30 min total. After 15 minutes flip burgers. Top with SoyaKaas Gluten Free/Dairy Free Monterrey Jack Cheese.
Enjoy! These burgers pair nicely with my butternut squash fries and/ or sweet potato fries.
Butternut Squash Fries
- Slice squash in half and seed insides
- Peal the outer layer and slice into “fry-like” shapes
- Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and place fries onto sheet
- Sprinkle with your choice of spices: Cinnamon (Sweet), Chili Powder (Salty), etc.
- Bake fries for a total of 40-45 minutes at 450 degrees. Flip fries after 20 minutes. If you like your fries extra crispy-keep them in the oven longer.
Enjoy! Serve with Organic Ketchup.
Sweet Potato Fries
- Simply follow the recipe above, however, substitute sweet potatoes for the squash.
All together now, this makes a wonderful dish: Pair the bean burger with your choice of fries and a side of steamed vegetables for a well rounded, healthy meal.
These look awesome! Can you explain the benfits of using ground flaxseed/wheat germ in the batter? Also, is one better than another (black bean vs. chickpea)?
Of course, let’s start with Ground Flaxseed. I recommend ground flaxseed because your body is better able to digest it rather than whole flaxseed. Whole flaxseed may pass through your intestine undigested, which means you will not get the health benefits of flaxseed. Flaxseed is high in fiber, omega 3 fatty acids and phytochemicals. It can also help reduce total blood cholesterol and LDL (Bad) cholesterol levels, therefore as a result, may help reduce the risk of heart disease. You can purchase raw flaxseed in bulk- ground or whole- in many food stores and health food stores. You can grind the whole seeds in a coffee grinder and then store in an airtight container for several months.
As for Wheat Germ, it contains many essential nutrients and is a good source of calcium, fiber, B vitamins (such as folate, niacin, thiamin, and B6), iron, magnesium, manganese, omega 3 fatty acids, phosphorous, potasium, protein, selenium. vitamin E, and zinc. Wheat Germ contains phytosterols which have been shown to lower cholesterol and promote heart health. In addition, it contains high amounts of vitamin E (which protects the body from damaging free radicals). Also, it is a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids which promote heart health as discussed above and can help elevate mood. Wheat germ is also a good source of fiber which has many benefits including improved bowl function and may reduce the risk of diabetes and developing heart disease, as well as prevent weight gain.
Hope this information is useful—enjoy the burgers…I love the chickpea burger … Mainly because chickpea’s are my favorite, however, both burgers are delish…give them a try and let me know your thoughts.
Enjoy!
Amie