It’s pretty much summer, and with summer comes my desire to be anywhere but the kitchen. It’s too hot to have the oven on and I would much rather be outside. However, even in summer, my husband appreciates warm meals (unlike me, who could just live off of smoothies, salads and popsicles all summer).
Since I prefer minimal time in the hot kitchen on hot days, I have been getting creative with summer meals. Burgers have always been a favourite, so it was only natural I figure out some ways to make a good patty. There were several versions I enjoyed, and I'll share the chickpea version with you today!
When it comes to vegan burgers, I’ve had really good ones and really bad ones. One of the really good ones occurred when we went out to eat with some friends a few months ago. It was so delicious, and I don’t even know what it was made of. All I knew, was that it had this perfect smokey taste and just the right amount of BBQ sauce. It was on my mind for days, and I had to reinvent it.
On a side note, we've been clearing out our cupboards getting ready for a busy summer and a move, so I just went right there. I had a can of chickpeas, and I decided that was what my burger was going to be made of.
By the way, I do enjoy making my beans from scratch now though!
It took several tries. I learned very quickly that I had to make sure it wouldn't crumble, and since we don't use eggs, it was a bit of a challenge with attempts I'd made in the past. I figured beans would help a lot with that, and was I ever right! With the oats and veggies in there, the texture was great - and the BBQ sauce....oh, the BBQ sauce...
Topped with some fried onion, a slice of vegan "cheese," and some fresh veggies, it's seriously delicious.
The best part about these, are that they're light, and don't leave us feeling groggy and gross.
Juicy Smoked Chickpea Burger
what you need:
15 oz. can chickpeas (or 1 1/2 cups if using cooked), drained and rinsed
Half Cup Rolled Oats
3 TBSP BBQ Sauce
½ Onion, Finely Diced
1 Small Zucchini, Grated and dried well
½ Small Carrot, Grated
About 1 tsp each: Salt, Cumin, Smoked Paprika
3 Cloves Garlic, Minced
2 tsp Olive Oil
what to do:
1) If using canned beans, drain and rinse well. Mash coarsely in a bowl with a fork.
2) Add the rest of your ingredients and seasonings and mix very well. Your mixture should not be too wet, but wet enough to form.
3) Shape the patties in your hand and lightly brown in heated fry pan.
4) Serve as a plain patty, or put in a bun (gluten-free if needed) and top with your favourite burger toppings (we love vegan cheese, lettuce, tomato, and fried onions). Enjoy!
Note: These freeze and reheat well.
What is your favourite thing to eat in the summer?
Let me know if you try out this burger by using the hashtag #MapleAlps! I love seeing what everyone comes up with!
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