Veggie Burger

Hiya folks... I know I've been away for much too long a time and it was totally unplanned. I had no intentions of taking a break but things just unfolded and soon I realized that it has been more than a month since I posted anything. Things have been super hectic at home and work and to top it there has been a lot of cold, cough, ear infections etc. going around at home so it has been tiring to say the least. I will try my best to post more regularly but if I am slacking yet again, you will know why :)

Coming to the recipe I have on hand.. this a hot new favorite at our home and is healthy too - a veggie burger.
What I love about this burger, besides it being absolutely delicious, filling & easy to make, is the fact that it has crunchy bits of vegetables that lends a yummy texture and can be frozen for later. We had these stuffed in pita bread (store-bought jalapeno cheddar pita) with some cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots & a touch of mayonnaise & ketchup - yummy! These can be served like traditional veggie burgers or even eaten as is like cutlets, if you please.

VEGGIE BURGER


Ingredients:
Blackbeans (cooked) - about 1.5 cups, coarsely mashed (you can use canned instead)

Potatoes -2, cooked & peeled (I microwaved for 8 mins with some water)

Quick cooking oats - half cup
Onion - half, chopped finely
Garlic - 4 cloves, chopped finely

Carrot - 1, big, chopped finely
Broccoli stalks - half cup, chopped finely

Bell peppers (red & green) - 1/3 cup, finely chopped
Bread crumbs - 1/4 cup (I run the end slices in a mixie and store them so used that)
Chilli powder - 1.5 tsp
Sambar powder - 1.5 tsp

Cumin powder - 1 tsp

Celery salt, Oregano, turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp each
Salt - to taste
Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp, chopped finely

Oil - 1 tbsp + more to cook the burgers (I used Extra virgin olive oil)

Method:

1) Heat oil in a pan and add onions, garlic and saute until translucent. Next add the green & red bell peppers, carrots, broccoli stalks and saute till crisp tender.

2) Add salt, chilli powder, cumin powder, sambar powder, celery salt, oregano & turmeric powder and let this cook for a few more minutes before adding in the mashed potatoes, oats, coarsely mashed black beans & bread crumbs. Switch off the stove.

3) Stir in the chopped coriander leaves and combine everything together and divide to form patties - make sure they are thick enough so they don't fall apart. Wrap them individually in cling wrap and refrigerate for an hour before cooking.

4) I froze some of these for later and pan-fried the rest on the tawa with some oil and assembled them in the pita bread.