Operation: Burger (Middle Eastern Lentil, Flax, and Beet Burger)
- By Jaquelyn
- 10 February, 2013
- No Comments
Ahhh… Valentines day (insert the strumming of harps and playing of violins)
I have been searching for the perfect way to surprise my guys with a special ‘I love you’ … but how do I do that in ‘guy speak’????
What better way then coming up with the perfect burger for them?
The challenge? To have it satisfying to the pallet for them, a pleasing crunch, and to be able to look at the ingredient list and smile knowing they are truly enjoying a nutritionally packed meal that will fuel them for the rest of the day.
Not an easy task… I started my quest by compiling the flavour profiles of each subject and deliberated over the contents of the pantry and fridge long and hard … what kind of burger would it be…
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Step #1 – I knew I wanted to make it a heart shaped patty and red for Valentines day… BEETS I cried!!! Luckily we had just gotten a beautiful selection of beets in our weekly organic vegetable delivery.
Step #2 – After running months of field trials I had found the pallet of the subject #1 seemed to lean towards the Middle Eastern flavours – hence the curry, cumin, and coriander… I also knew he craved some crunch to be added to the burger and loves almonds so we had better throw some of those in too. ;o)
Step #3 – Subject #2 is a huge lentils, (and due to extensive pallet training – lol) veggie and nutritional yeast lover… so that made that easy.
Step #4 – And for me??? I decided to just cram as much yummy goodness as I could into the troops… (Insert a huge smile and wink here.)
The result?
A huge success!!! And I can look at the ingredient list and know without a doubt that this is something I can be proud to serve my family. These nutritionally dense burgers got rave reviews on all fronts – taste, nutrition, crunch… you name it, and this burger has it.
Happy Valentines!!
From our family to yours.
- ½ cup Lentils
- ½ cup Wild rice
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup red onion
- ¼ cup grated zucchini
- ¼ cup red beets
- ¼ cup carrots
- 3 tbs chopped almonds
- 1 tbs ground flax seed
- ⅓ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp curry
- ¼ tsp cayenne
- ½ tsp coriander
- ½ tsp (smoked) paprika
- 1 ½ tsp freshly chopped parsley
- Salt to taste
- Pre heat the oven to 350-degrees.
- In a frying pan lightly brown garlic, almonds, and veggies.
- Meanwhile place the remaining ingredients (minus the fresh parsley) into a bowl and crush them together with the back of a spoon so they are mashed (but not pulverized) together.
- Add the frying pan mixture and parsley to the burger mix once cooked and stir. Form into burger patties … or hearts - lol… and cook at 350 for 20 minutes. Garnish as desired and serve.
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