With the nice weather coming, burgers are on the list for a yummy meal! A nice twist or change from the regular chicken or beef burger is this great little Vegan friendly, gluten free Quinoa Burger. I absolutely LOVE it. You can make a larger batch - cook them up and freeze them in serving size and you have a quick, high protein, vegan friendly burger!!!!
So - where to start:
Ingredients:
-2 cups cooked red quinoa - pick the red as it sticks better and holds together more when you are cooking them. WHY QUINOA: Quinoa is one of the most protein-rich foods we can eat. ...Quinoa contains almost twice as much fiber as most other grains. ...Quinoa contains Iron. ...Quinoa contains lysine. ...Quinoa is rich in magnesium. ...Quinoa is high in Riboflavin (B2). ...Quinoa has a high content of manganese. Quinoa is naturally gluten-free and contains iron, B-vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, vitamin E, and fiber. It is one of only a few plant foods that are considered a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids
-3 eggs - beaten - you can use egg replacer for a vegan option! I cook these vegan so I use the replacers - works fabulous.
-half tsp of salt
-half tsp of lemon pepper - this is a must!!!! WHY LEMON PEPPER: Detox: ...Liver And Digestion Stimulant: ...Improved Immunity: ...Source Of Vitamin C: ...Destroys Free Radicals: ...Boosts Liver Functioning: ...Enhanced Blood Circulation:
-2 tbsp of parsley
-a third of a cup red onion
-a third of a cup cheese - again - I do this vegan style so it is Daiya cheese. It melts into the quinoa beautifully. You can use any brand - I just like this one
-1-2 cloves garlic - WHY GARLIC: Garlic has long been a folk remedy for colds and illness, and its anti-inflammatoryproperties are amazing! Garlic contains sulfur compounds that stimulate your immune system to fight disease. Additionally, garlic is an excellent source of manganese and vitamin B6. It is also a very good source of vitamin C and copper. In addition, garlic is a good source of selenium, phosphorus, vitamin B1 and calcium. Yup - not so great for the breath but otherwise, it is fabulous and tastes amazing.
-half a cup gluten free breadcrumbs
-a quarter cup grated carrots
-a quarter cup green relis
That is it! Now, how to mix it together.
Rinse and cook the quinoa as usual.
Combine the quinoa, eggs or egg option, salt and lemon pepper. Stir in parsley, onion, cheese, and garlic. Add breadcrumbs, carrots, and relish. Let the mixture stand for a few minutes so the breadcrumbs absorb the juices.
Heat a skillet, cook patties for 7-10 minutes till bottoms are brown. I LOVE this with a portabella mushroom instead of a bun. Add anything on top, spinach, hummus spread, chipotle spread, sprouts, tomotoes, pickles, absolutely anything goes. Freeze the extra in aluminum foil and take out and put on the bbque on the foil to warm up when cooking later! Works great and a fabulous variation on meat burgers. Of course you could use this receipe for beef or chicken burgers - I do and it works fabulous too. I dont pre cook them though - just pop them in the freezer ready to go for a warm summer day. ENJOY - THE WARM WEATHER IS COMING :)