This veggie burger works well because it actually holds together — something so many versions don’t do. The secret is in the four eggs and whole wheat bread crumbs.
I love the idea of cutting the cooked patty in half and stuffing the center with delicious fillings so you don’t need bread. The original recipe calls for garbanzo beans but I used the mung beans I had left over and they worked well too. Mung beans cook much faster than most beans and have a nutritional profile similar to chickpeas except they offer more magnesium (good for intense exercise enthusiasts), folate and vitamin B1. The recipe makes about six burgers and one per person is plenty. They’re very filling once you add the stuffings!
Ultimate Veggie Burger
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups garbanzo beans (chickpeas) or mung beans
1 onion, quartered
4 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Grated zest of one large lemon
1 cup micro sprouts, chopped (try broccoli, onion or alfalfa sprouts), optional
1 cup whole-grain bread crumbs
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (or clarified butter)
Directions
Pulse the onions a few times in a food processor. Add the beans, eggs and salt. Puree until the mixture is the consistency of a very thick, slightly chunky hummus. Pour into a mixing bowl and stir in the cilantro, zest and sprouts. Add the breadcrumbs; stir and let sit for a couple of minutes so the crumbs can absorb some of the moisture. At this point, you should have a moist mixture that you can easily form into six larger patties. If the patties seem too runny, you can always add more bread crumbs a little at a time to firm up the dough if necessary. A bit of water can also be used to moisten the batter.
Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium-low, add four patties, cover, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, until the bottoms begin to brown. Turn up the heat if there is no browning after 10 minutes. Flip the patties and cook the second side for 7 minutes, or until golden. Remove from the skillet and cool on a wire rack while you cook the remaining patties. Carefully cut each patty in half, insert your favorite fillings, and enjoy immediately.
I spread salted Greek yogurt on each side then added oven-roasted cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and sliced avocado. You might also add some grilled red peppers, arugula or thinly sliced red onion. The possibilities are endless!