Who ever said that burgers could only be made with meat? If you’re a keen cook with an interest in healthy alternatives, here are three tasty recipes for 100% veggie or fish burgers.
Lentil burgers
Yes, you read it right! Pulses are a great way of making veggie burgers: you can use chickpeas, kidney beans or lentils. In this recipe you’ll need 300 g of lentils, 50 g of flour (wholewheat if possible), 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, salt, pepper, fresh parsley, ground cumin and extra-virgin olive oil. Let the lentils soak for 5 hours, then cook them in salted water until they have softened. Strain and set aside to dry. Pour into a large bowl and mash with a fork. Add the finely chopped onion, parsley and garlic, followed by salt, pepper and cumin to taste. Mix in the flour and stir well. Leave for 15 minutes and then shape the patties, fry them and—hey presto!—your lentil burgers are ready. You can use turmeric instead of cumin for a different taste.
Rice, spinach and nut burgers
You’ll need 200 g of boiled rice, 100 g of cooked spinach, a handful of peeled walnuts, a handful of hazelnuts, a clove of garlic, a spring onion, soya sauce, breadcrumbs, oregano and extra-virgin olive oil. Mix the spinach together with the chopped spring onion and garlic and the crushed nuts. Add the rice and stir well. Mix in the oregano and soya sauce until you get a tasty mixture. Finally, slowly add the breadcrumbs until you get the right consistency: make sure it’s solid enough not to fall apart when fried. You can also add an egg for extra juiciness.
Salmon burgers
We’ve made burgers out of pulses and cereals, so now it’s time for some fish. We’ve chosen salmon for its great taste and large personality, but you could use other fish, such as hake. You’ll need 500 g of fresh salmon without any bones (salmon steaks are great for this), a spring onion, fresh dill, black pepper, salt, breadcrumbs and extra-virgin olive oil. Make sure you remove the skin and any bones you find. Once you’ve cleaned the fish, chop it into small pieces with a big, sharp knife. Add the finely chopped spring onion and dill, a couple of handfuls of breadcrumbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir well and then shape the patties to make your burgers.
