I must admit I have been feeling a little bland lately. I have been going to the store, picking out the same veggies and then coming home and making the same dish with a few things added here and there. I bought "eat, drink & be vegan" by Dreena Burton a couple a weeks ago and was more than excited. But was reminded of why I steer away from cook books, they can be extremely overwhelming!!! I wanna make this and this and this and I need this mixer and that strainer and then....ya it sits on my shelf collecting dust. But I was determined this time. If I am going to be a vegan I am going to have to start cooking like one!
Spicoli Burgers
These paties are crisp on the outside and soft and moist on the inside! If you don't like hemp seeds you'll change your mind after a bite of these totally awesome patties. Serve them on there own or inside a pita bread (which is what I did) with veggies and condiments.
Recipe:
2 tsp Olive Oil
1 1/4 -1 1/2 cups onion, diced
1/8 tsp sea salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
3/4 cup red bell pepper, diced (I bought them pre diced)
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup shelled hemp seeds
2 medium cloves garlic, quatered
2 tbsp ketchup (I excluded this mainly because I forgot!)
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp dried ground sage
1 cup cooked rice (You add this in AFTER you have processed all the ingredients)
1/4 cup flour (To coat the patties in. I used Quinoa flour)
In a frying pan on meduim heat, add oil, onions, salt, and black pepper and saute for 3-4 minutes until onions start to soften. Add bell peppers and saute for another 5-6 minutes, until onions are fully softened.
In a food processor (I was SOOO excited to use mine!!!) combine sauteed onions and peppers, 2 cups of cooked rice, hemp seeds, garlic, ketchup, mustard, oregano, thyme, sage, salt and puree until farily smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl if needed.
Transfer to a bowl and stir in remaining rice (1 cup cooked). This gives the mixture some more texture!
Refriderate for at least 30 minutes (I put mine in the freezer for about 10 and then in the fridge to speed up the process) to firm up. Remove from the fridge and form patties with your hands. Place flour evenly on a plate and lightly dust both sides of each patty, shaking off excess.
In a frying pan on medium-high, heat oil. Add patties, 3 or 4 at at time, and lightly flaten with a spatula. Cook for 6-9 minutes on each side, until golden brown and a crust has formed.
I cut up a tomato and some leafty greens for my toppings and then had some flatbread to top it off!
I had a ton of patties left over that I put in the freezer. They will be great to chop up and put in a salad or over quinoa/rice. My stomach has never done well with soy patties or "fake meat" and I have always wanted to eat some sort of sandwhich. This was so tatsy I actually ate more than Graham!!! He told me I had a lot to live up to after this meal :) Enjoy!
