Beet Burgers

Served with veggie cheese on a lightly toasted sprouted 7 grain bun.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup millet, rinsed (or brown rice)
• 2 cups water
• 1 vegetable bouillon cube

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• 6 small beets, peeled and shredded (about 5 cups)
• 1 large carrot, shredded (about 1 cup)
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, chopped

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• 1 1/2 cups cooked beans (or 1 can rinsed and drained)
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

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• 2 tablespoon flaxseed meal
• 6 tablespoons water

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• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon oil

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• 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour

METHOD:

• Combine millet, water and bouillon in pot and cook 30 minutes or until water is absorbed (cook brown rice for 50 minutes)
• Shred beets and carrots in food processor; set aside
• Combine flaxseed meal and water; set aside to gel
• In the food processor combine beans, oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, spices and 1 cup of the shredded beets, processing for several minutes until mashed; transfer to a large bowl
• Stir the rest of shredded beets, shredded carrots, sunflower seeds and cooked millet into the bean mash
• In the millet cooking pot, saute onion and garlic in oil about 5 minutes; stir into rest of vegetables
• Stir in flaxseed mixture
• Stir in flour
• Shape into twenty 1/2 cup patties and place on greased cookie sheet
• Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees (bake 10 minutes longer to serve without freezing)
• Cool on sheet for 10 minutes, carefully transfer to wire rack and cool 10 minutes longer
• Place racks in freezer for one hour or until patties are partially frozen
• Transfer patties to freezer container, separated by a piece of waxed paper
• To prepare frozen patties, broil in toaster oven for 10 minutes on each side

 

NOTES:

I tried a few different beet burger recipes and although the taste was good, in each case the burger did not hold together.  If I could get it cooked intact and transferred to a bun, it squooshed right out the other side of the bun at the first bite.  I kept trying until I came up with a burger that held together.  I also experimented with partially cooking and freezing to have burgers on hand at all times and that worked very well.  I like these so much I may never buy packaged veggie burgers again.