Vegetarian Burger: Spicy mushroom and chickpea burgers

[Guest guest]

Spicy mushroom and chickpea burgers

 

Makes 6

 

Preparation time less than 30 mins

Cooking time 10 to 30 mins

 

Share a plate of these superior burgers with a group of hardcore meat-eating

mates. See if they moan (they won't).

Ingredients

4 tbsp olive oil

110g/4oz onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 small dried chilli, crumbled

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

¼ tsp ground turmeric

½ lemongrass stalk, finely chopped

200g/7oz chestnut mushrooms, finely chopped

1 lime, juice only

salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 x 400g/14oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

75g/3oz fresh breadcrumbs

few drops Tabasco sauce

2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander

flour, for dusting

To serve

burger buns or ciabatta, toasted or warmed

guacamole

tomato slices

mayonnaise, mixed with sweet chilli sauce

rocket

spring onion slices

 

 

Method

1. Heat three tablespoons of the olive oil in a large frying pan and gently fry

the onion and garlic for five minutes, stirring frequently, until softened but

not coloured.

2. Add the chilli, cumin, coriander, turmeric and lemongrass and cook for three

minutes. Add the mushrooms and lime juice and cook for another five minutes,

until softened. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper and

tip into a large bowl to cool slightly.

3. Place the chickpeas into a bowl and crush with a fork until broken up, but

still chunky (or do this in a food processor). Transfer to the large bowl with

the mushroom mixture and add the breadcrumbs, Tabasco, coriander, salt and

freshly ground black pepper. Mix well with a fork.

4. Sprinkle some flour on a large plate. Flour your hands and shape the mixture

into six patties. Wash and re-flour your hands if they get too sticky.

5. Chill the burgers on the plate in the fridge for a few minutes or until

needed.

6. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan and fry the burgers

for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden-brown and heated through.

7. Serve with salad leaves or stack up in burger buns.