Food and Garden Dailies started as a way to record my family's favorite recipes. It has come in handy many times when I'm asked for a recipe. I simply email a link to the blog! But I couldn't just stick to recipes. The kitchen is tied to the garden in so many ways...and so I let you into my ever changing garden as well.

If you're interested in my all-time favorite recipes, check out this post first: My Favorite Recipes

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Lentil-Barley Burgers

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Since the girl declared herself a vegetarian 4 years ago, we've been on the hunt for flavorful, kid-friendly vegetarian recipes.  It's so easy to just pop a frozen chik patty or a veggie burger in the toaster oven, and at times we do rely on them.  But my goal is to have a variety of healthy, home-made, frozen vegetarian foods on hand for the girl's meals.  This lentil-barley burger is perfect!

Lentil-Barley Burgers
(Cooking Light)

Use leftover cooked pearl barley with lentils, veggies, and seasonings for a hearty main-dish burger sans the bun. Fruit salsa adds bright flavors. Serve with lime wedges for added zest.
Total: 2 hours
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 patties and 1/4 cup salsa)

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2  cups  water
  • 1/2  cup  dried lentils
  • Cooking spray
  • 1  cup  chopped onion
  • 1/4  cup  grated carrot
  • 2  teaspoons  minced garlic
  • 2  tablespoons  tomato paste
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons  ground cumin
  • 3/4  teaspoon  dried oregano
  • 1/2  teaspoon  chili powder
  • 3/4  teaspoon  salt, divided
  • 3/4  cup  cooked pearl barley
  • 1/2  cup  panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
  • 1/4  cup  finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/2  teaspoon  coarsely ground black pepper
  • 2  large egg whites
  • 1  large egg
  • 3  tablespoons  canola oil, divided

1. To prepare burgers, combine 1 1/2 cups water and lentils in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes or until lentils are tender. Drain. Place half of lentils in a large bowl. Place remaining lentils in a food processor; process until smooth. Add processed lentils to whole lentils in bowl.

2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion and carrot; sauté 6 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add tomato paste, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add onion mixture to lentils. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, barley, and next 5 ingredients (through egg); stir well. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

3. Divide mixture into 8 portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 patties; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Repeat procedure with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and 4 patties.

Cooking Light published a recipe for Fiery Fruit Salsa to serve with the burgers.  Here's that recipe as well:

Fiery Fruit Salsa
(Cooking Light)

Mis together, cover, and refrigerate:
  • 1/4  cup  finely chopped pineapple
  • 1/4  cup  finely chopped mango
  • 1/4  cup  finely chopped tomatillo
  • 1/4  cup  halved grape tomatoes
  • 1  tablespoon  fresh lime juice
  • 1  serrano chile, minced

Nutritional Information :

Serving Size:  2 patties, 1/4 cup Salsa;  Calories: 315;  Fat:  12.8g (sat 1.2g,mono 6.8g,poly 3.5g);  Protein:  12.8g:  Carbohydrate:  39.2g;  Fiber:  9.5g;  Cholesterol:  53mg;  Iron:  3.9mg;  Sodium:  539mg;  Calcium:  60mg

3 comments:

Unknown said...

These look delicious! I am not a total vegetarian but a flexitarian, so I'm always on the look-out for yummy vege meals. As a side note, I did not see an email address for you or I would have emailed you directly. I started a food and gardening blog myself and have placed a link to your blog on my site. I have enjoyed reading your recipes and will continue to do so!

Shannon Marie said...

Sorry - it appears I was signed in another account! I would love to hear feedback on my blog if you have the time. Any and all advice would be appreciated!

dg said...

Thanks for the compliment. I did peak at your blog and enjoyed it! Looking forward to checking it out more thoroughly.