"beet" this burger

*the stars of the show*

hope to grow ones like this beautiful bunch someday!

when the idea to make my own veggie burger first struck, i searched online for weeks and painstakingly poured through hundreds of different recipes. (ok, i exaggerate just a little). but really, i did come across A LOT of 'em, and i had no idea which one to choose. then this recipe caught my eye, for two reasons - 1) it was a grand prize winner in a contest, and 2) the grated raw beet and almonds in the recipe intrigued me.

i love almonds and all things crunchy; i also imagined the beets would give the burgers a pleasing color - and i was right. (and when you're cooking to interest meat-eaters, you're very concerned with color and texture resembling the meat version, as i'm sure many herbivores already know!)

with a side of sauteed beet greens (yes, you can eat the tops, and they're scrumptious - like spinach!)

grilled

the winning recipe was developed by a Mayan woman named Olinda Cho-Forsythe. she developed her burger recipe in the kitchens of the Gran Fraternidad Universal, an organization dedicated to world peace and to promoting a vegetarian diet through centers and restaurants throughout Latin America. a very big thank you to Olinda! =)

"Beet" this Burger
makes 4-5 patties

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp grated raw beet
1/2 C. cooked quick rolled oats*
1 C. uncooked oats
1/2 C. coarsely ground walnuts
1/4 C. coarsely ground almonds
1/4 C. mashed chick peas (optional)
2 Tbsp sesame seeds
1 Tbsp veg broth or water
1/4 C. green pepper, minced (optional)
1/4 C. celery (or fennel)
1/4 C. onion, minced
1 tsp basil (dried or fresh)
1/4 tsp sage
1/4 tsp mustard powder, or mustard (spicy brown or dijon)
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast flakes (optional)

* Bring 1/2 C water to a boil in small saucepan. Add 1/4 C oats and a dash of salt. Return to boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 7 minutes.

Directions~
Get the oaks cooking while you chop the veggies. Throw everything into a big bowl and mix well. Form into patties. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium high. Cook patties until golden on each side.

i like to top these burgers with veggie burger or bbq sauce, avocado, tomato, and something crunchy, like onions, lettuce, or even sliced fennel. it's your burger...put whatever you want on it! =)

Veggie Burger Sauce

1 tbsp mustard
2 green onions
1 tsp wasabi
1 tsp soy sauce
juice from 1 lemon
few dashes hot sauce
2 tbsp olive oil

blend until smooth. use with ketchup, onions, pickle, and a sesame seed bun to get that fast food flavor, minus the cruelty and grease.