If you follow me on twitter you must know all about my failed attempt at going vegan. It was hilarious really, one moment I was all “Eat meat and die” and the next I was creating a new chicken recipe.
I haven’t completely abandoned the idea but if my experience has taught me anything it is that my carnivorous side cannot be tamed. So I’ve settled for including vegetarian meals in my diet as much as possible. I love the idea of turning food that is primarily made with meat into vegan meals. I have experimented with my fair share of vegan burgers and this quinoa burger is one of my favourite yet.
I wanted to create a meal that was filling, tasty and equally nutritious so it was no surprise that I reached for Quinoa, super grain extraordinaire. It’s low in calories, filling, protein packed and the perfect rice replacement.I bound the burger with eggs (I know this is a no no for some vegetarians), feta cheese and breadcrumbs then I infused the mixture with herbs and spices. What you’ll get is a delicious moist and flavourful patty. To top it off, I created a beetroot slaw, which I think is an essential part of this meal as it packs really amazing flavours. I tied everything together with fresh mango slices, spinach and a simple yogurt dressing. Perfection. This recipe feeds four adults and comes together in no time. I hope you try it out, you’ll be glad you did.
Enjoy, Gbemi x
You’ll need
Quinoa burger
2 1/2 cups of cooked quinoa
5 eggs
1/2 chilli (opt)
1 tbsp. parsley (chopped)
4 garlic cloves (crushed)
Salt & Pepper
1/3 cup feta cheese
1 onion (finely chopped)
1/3 cup spring onions (finely diced)
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 tbsp. butter/ coconut oil for frying
Beet slaw
1 beetroot (grated)
1 tap olive oil
1 lime (zest & juice)
1 tsp honey
1 tsp soy wife
Salt & Pepper
Topping
2 mangos (sliced)
1 handful spinach
Yogurt dressing
Directions
Combine the ingredients for the beetroot slaw in a small bowl and place in the fridge to infuse.
In a large bowl add the cooked Quinoa and make a well. Add the eggs to the hole and whisk to combine whites and yolk. Add the herbs, spices, cheese garlic and mix into the Quinoa. Fold in the spring onions, onions and breadcrumbs. Season to taste. Add a little water or breadcrumbs to adjust the texture of the mixture. You should have a firm but moist mixture. Form into 10 – 12 2inch patties. Heat the oil in pan and cook each patty on each side for 4-5 minutes, drain on a rack and assemble with the beet slaw, mango spinach and dressing. Top with another patty and enjoy.