My husband hasn't been very receptive of the change (I do almost all of the cooking), as he declared one evening "I am not a vegetarian. Where is the meat?"
It's hard cooking for two different tastes. I try and compromise when I can, and will often make something with meat and then save a little on the side without for myself. But I refuse to cook two different dinners each night, so some nights he has to deal with it (; Unless of course, as I politely told him, he would like to cook dinner.
Since it doesn't look like I'll be replaced in the kitchen anytime soon, the vegetarian experimenting will continue - within reason, of course, since I know the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. And my man's got a meat loving stomach!
To be frank, the reason I made these wasn't because I was craving a good burger - it was because I hadn't planned ahead, a friend gave me the recipe and I realized I had everything on hand (love when that happens!). They turned out delicious, although, if you're expecting a burger you will be disappointed.
I find that a lot of people try and substitute ingredients, but then expect they will taste the same. Here's a tidbit of useful info as you experiment in the kitchen: if it's not beef, it's not going to taste like beef. A veggie, chickpea, mushroom, tofu, etc. burger is NEVER going to taste like a beef hamburger, so if that's what you're looking for - make a beef burger.
These other options will; however, open your palate to new tastes and allow you an opportunity to test out new textures, flavors and ingredients. That's why I like this recipe, there are flavors that I would never have considered putting together and they worked beautifully together!
Chickpea Burgers
makes 4 patties
2 T oil
1 cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped carrot
1 t cumin
1 can chic peas, rinsed and drained
1 ½ T peanut butter OR tahini (I used PB)
¼ chopped fresh parsley
½ t salt
1/3 cup flour (I used buckwheat, but you could use any flour)
1/2 c cornmeal, for dusting before grilling
Sauté the onions in 1 T oil for 5 minutes. Add the carrots and sauté for an additional 2 minutes. Add the cumin and sauté one more minute.
Shape into patties and pat into cornmeal. I used an indoor grill pan, brushed with EVOO, and grilled each patty for about 3 minutes on each side, until I had nice grill marks. I grilled my sprouted grain buns as well.
Enjoy!
XoXo,
Nicole