Veggie Burgers

Happy Monday folks!!
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. With the weather being so warm and pleasant, I bet you all are as tempted as I am, to stay outdoors and enjoy the sun while it lasts. For all those busy summer days, I present to you these flavorful vegetarian burgers. Embellish them as you like, and you won’t be disappointed.

Ingredients
1 Medium Onion, finely chopped
3 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 Can (15-oz) Chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1-2 Green Chilies
1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
1 Teaspoon Paprika or Red Chili Powder, optional
1 Lime, juiced
2-3 Tablespoons Fresh Cilantro, finely chopped
1/2 cup Breadcrumbs
Sea salt and Pepper to taste
Avocado, Tomato, Lettuce and Cheese, optional for serving

Process

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Heat 1-2 teaspoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions and garlic, stirring frequently for about 2 minutes or until the onions are soft and translucent. Set aside to cool.
3. Add the onions and garlic to a mixing bowl, along with drained chickpeas. Use a fork mash and mix everything together. Alternatively, you can also pulse the mixture in grinder or food processor. A little texture is OK.
4. Add the remaining ingredients i.e. green chilies, ground cumin, paprika, salt, pepper and lime juice and form the mixture into dough. Add more lime juice if the mixture is dry or breadcrumbs if the mixture is very sticky. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
5. Divide the mixture into 4 patties.
6. Heat the skillet over medium heat with remaining olive oil – just enough to form a thin layer at the bottom of the skillet. Add the patties and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, flipping gently.
7. You can serve the burgers as is, or pop them on a baking sheet and bake in a 375 degree oven for an additional 15-20 minutes or more to dry/crisp them up and for making them firm. The longer you bake them, the firmer they’ll become.
8. Let the burgers cool for 2-3 minutes before serving as they’ll firm up while cooling. Serve the burgers, on bread of your choice, with a layer of cilantro, topped with burger, avocado, tomato, lettuce, cheese or any other desired toppings.

Enjoy! 🙂