The Perfect Veggie Burger

I was about to swear off veggie burgers due to the fact that I hadn't found a veggie burger that wowed me! They were all bland and mushy. I stumbled across a vegan veggie burger (I adapted it to non-vegan) that seemed to meet what I was looking for and decided to give veggie burgers another chance. These really were perfect and far from mushy. They were crunchy, crispy, full of flavor, and they held their form!

Veggie Burger 
Ingredients: 

1/2 cup onion, diced

1 large garlic clove, minced

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup oats, processed into flour

1 1/2 cups bread crumbs (I processed 3 pieces of Ezekiel bread until fine crumb)

1 cup grated carrots

1 cup cooked black beans, rinsed and roughly pureed or mashed

Heaping 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley

1/3 cup almonds, chopped (toasted if preferred)

1/2 cup sunflower seeds, (toasted if preferred)

1 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 tbsp Tamari (soy sauce)

1.5 tsp chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. oregano

salt and black pepper, to taste (I used about 3/4 tsp course sea salt)

Directions:

 In a large skillet, sauté onions and garlic in 1/2 tbsp oil.

Place all ingredients (except spices and salt) into a large mixing bowl and stir very well. Now, add seasonings and salt to taste.

With slightly wet hands, shape dough into 8 patties. Pack dough tightly as this will help it stick together.

Fry the burgers in a bit of oil on a skillet or spray skillet with non stick spray over medium heat for about 5 minutes on each side or until golden and crispy. If baking in the oven, bake for 25-30 mins (15-17 minutes on each side) at 350F, until golden and crisp.

Yields: 8 burgers

Did you know diets rich in vegetables and fruits: Lower blood pressure; reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and probably some cancers; lower risk of eye and digestive problems; and a mellowing effect on blood sugar that can help keep appetite in check?!

Source: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vegetables-and-fruits/
Recipe adapted from: Oh She Glows