My Quest for the BEST Veggie Burger

Veggie burgers are interesting.  There are so many possible variations that look quite similar, but really taste very different based on subtle variations in spicing and texture.  Since falling in love with these chickpea burgers early on in my New Recipe Challenge, I’ve tried several times to find a veggie burger I liked better.  With a food processor, you can experiment with veggie burgers quite easily.  I made these veggie burgers, also off of the Never Home Maker blog, and I tried these sweet potato-black bean burgers as well.  Although some of the burgers, like the spicy BBQ burger I’m sharing with you today, require a bit more prep-work, in less than an hour of hands-on time in the kitchen you can have eight meals.  Not bad!

Still, nothing has lived up to that very first recipe, which I’ve now made at least four or five times, for several different crowds.  I’d always thought that cooking was like looking for lost keys: you always find your favorite recipe in the last place you look.  Is it really possible that in this case, I found my favorite on my first attempt?

Spicy BBQ Chickpea Burgers

Adapted from Oh She Glows

Serves 8 

Ingredients:

• 2 (15 oz) cans of chickpeas
• 1/2 cup dry quinoa (~ 1 1/4 cup cooked)
• 4 T sunflower seeds
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup diced red pepper
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 1 small carrot, grated
• 4T BBQ sauce (plus more for serving)
• 4T ground flax seed meal
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• Sea salt, to taste (I used 1 tsp)
• Toppings of choice: I used smoked gruyere and avocado- yum!
• Buns, if desired

Directions:

To prep:  Cook quinoa according to package.  Drain and rinse chick peas.  Finely chop the garlic, both peppers, and  onion (this can also be done in a food processor) and grate the carrot.

In a food processor, pulse the quinoa and chickpeas until well combined.  In a large bowl, combined chickpea mixture, veggies, sunflower seeds, BBQ sauce and ground flax seed.  Add salt and red pepper flakes, to taste.

Form 6-8 patties and pack dough together tightly.

You can cook these in a skillet or in the oven.  I first browned on a skillet, then cooked on 475 for an addition 10-15 minutes, adding the cheese about 5 minutes before removing from the oven.  Garnish with toppings of choice!

Johanna