Lentil-Mushroom Burgers

I’ve tried a lot of vegetarian burger recipes, and this is one of the best. Feel free to freestyle a bit as you always should. I added some chili flakes, turmeric, and a little Franks Hot Sauce to my latest batch. (I also didn’t make homemade bread crumbs but will do sometime as I bet that would be 🔥)

Source

Eat & Run (pages 25–26)

Makes

A dozen 4-inch diameter burgers

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried green lentils (2 1/4 cups cooked)
• 2 1/4 cups water
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/4 cups finely chopped onion, divided
• 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 2 cups fine bread crumbs (see Note)
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed (flax seed meal)
• 3 cups finely chopped mushrooms
• 1 1/2 cups destemmed, finely chopped kale, spinach, or winter greens
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Directions

1. In a small pot, bring the lentils, water, parsley, 1 garlic clove, and 1/4 cup of the onion to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, for 35 to 40 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the lentils are soft.
2. While the lentils are cooking, combine the walnuts, bread crumbs, and flax seed in a bowl. Add the nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and paprika and mix well.
3. Sauté the remaining onion, remaining garlic, the mushrooms, and greens in the oil for 8 to 10 minutes, then set aside.
4. Remove the lentils from the heat, add the vinegar and mustard, and mash with a potato masher or wooden spoon to a thick paste.
5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the lentils, sautéed veggies, and bread crumb mixture, and mix well. Cool in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes or more.
6. Using your hands, form burger patties to your desired size and place on waxed paper. Lightly fry in a seasoned skillet, broil, or grill until lightly browned and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes on each side.

Storage

Extra uncooked patties can be frozen on wax paper in plastic bags or wrapped individually in aluminum foil.

Note (bread crumbs)

To make the bread crumbs, you’ll need about half of a loaf of day-old bread (the book suggests Ezekiel 4:9). Slice the bread, then tear or cut into 2- to 3-inch pieces and chop in a food processor for 1 to 2 minutes, until a fine crumb results. The walnuts can also be chopped in the food processor with the bread.

My notes

I like to add turmeric, chili flakes, and a little Franks Hot Sauce in the mix. Also, if things are a little dry, add a beaten egg (or two) or a couple of tablespoons of aqua fava.