Clean Eating recipe - Veggie Burgers

It's finally time for grilling and burger season! In my opinion, Veggie Burgers is a meal that you have to make from scratch. Not only to get the best taste, but also to make sure you don't eat the preservatives and unnecessary ingredients  (sugar, color etc) that can be found in the pre-made burgers in the store.

  • Prep time: 30 mins
  • Cook time: 15 mins
  • Total time: 45 mins

Ingredients

  • 8 oz spinach
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small red bell pepper
  • 4 green onions
  • 14 oz can chickpeas
  • 4 oz ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg yolk (can be substituted be with egg substitute or a little corn starch)
  • 1 egg beaten (can be substituted be with egg substitute)
  • ½ tsp ground coriander
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups dry whole-grain breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 8 mini burger buns
  • Cherry tomatoes

Coleslaw

  • 1 bag of coleslaw mix
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup of plain fat free Greek yogurt
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp honey
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Coleslaw

  1. Pour the coleslaw mix into a bowl.
  2. Mince the garlic.
  3. In a separate smaller bowl, mix together the garlic, vinegar, yogurt, mustard and honey.
  4. Pour dressing over the cabbage mixture and combine well. 
  5. Season with salt and pepper.

 

Burgers

  1. Slice the green onions finely and set aside.
  2. Spread out the flour on a plate and set aside.
  3. Put the beaten egg (or egg substitute) on a plate and set aside.
  4. Spread out the breadcrumbs on a plate and set aside.
  5. Wash the spinach and pat it dry with paper towel.
  6. Heat up a pan on medium heat and add the spinach. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring continuously, until wilted. Remove from the heat, drain well and set aside.
  7. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and cook the pepper and green onions over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, until soft. Set aside.
  8. Place the chickpeas in a food processor or mixer with the ricotta cheese and blend until smooth.
  9. Add the spinach, egg yolk and coriander and blend again to mix well.
  10. Transfer to a mixing bowl and fold in the pepper and green onion mixture. Shape the mixture into 8 patties.
  11. Toss the patties lightly in the flour, then roll first in the beaten egg and then in the breadcrumbs to coat. Chill the burgers for 20 minutes.
  12. Heat up the vegetable oil in a large pan and cook the burgers over medium heat for about 6-7 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp.
  13. Serve in the buns with the coleslaw.

Enjoy!