The ultimate in healthy and tasty recipes, this Quinoa Bean Burger with Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce will delight those who are looking for a non-traditional burger.
Not only do these bean burgers make for a great meal, they’re packed with nutritious kidney beans and quinoa. Kidney beans are noted for being full of protein, potassium, iron and magnesium; they help ward off heart disease, fight disease with their antioxidants and keep blood pressure at a healthy level. As for the quinoa, well, what can’t it do? Quinoa is a well-known superfood that is naturally gluten-free. It’s got the most protein of any grain, as well as generous amounts of iron, fiber and potassium. When the grain is cooked up, it has a nice, fluffy texture with a nutty taste.
To top off the burger, don’t forget to mix up the Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce, a Greek-yogurt based sauce that has a refreshing mix of summer tastes: cilantro and lime.
Tip: To form the patties, use an ice cream scoop with a squeeze-release mechanism, and then press down with the spatula to flatten into perfect circles. If you want to use your hand, wet them with cold water in between each patty so that the quinoa-bean mixture doesn’t stick to your hands.
Our food blogger, Kate created this tasty recipe for us. See her other creations on her blog, Babaganosh
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 15.4-oz jar of Randall Beans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup cilantro leaves, tightly packed
- 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs (regular can be used)
- 1 egg
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3-4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil and add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 2-3 minutes on medium heat, or until garlic starts to turn golden-brown.
- 2. In a large food processor, combine the quinoa, beans, cilantro, breadcrumbs egg, and the cooked garlic/red pepper flake mixture. Process for a few seconds at a time until the cilantro is finely chopped and everything is mixed together well. The mixture will resemble a thick clay.
- 3. In a large skillet (use the same one as for the garlic), heat about a tablespoon of olive oil. Form 3-inch patties and place them into the pan to cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, or until the patty is nicely browned. Carefully flip, and cook 3-5 minutes on the other side. We were able to get 5 patties into a pan and cook these all in 2 batches.
Notes
Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce Total time: 3 minutes.
• 1/2 cup plain fat free Greek yogurt (use a rounded 1/2 cup) • 1-2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, finely chopped • 1 small garlic clove, minced • 1 teaspoon lime juice • Salt to taste (about 1/4 teaspoon), pepper to taste
Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. This sauce will keep well in the fridge for a couple of days, just give it a stir before serving if it separates overnight.
