Vege burger. Roast garlic, red pepper, and tomato relish

There is something about burgers. Select ingredients in a bun. Usually those ingredients include meat. The challenge was to create a vegetarian patty that is as delicious as the meat patties look (at least to us meat eaters!).

The combination of black rice, quinoa, and mushrooms, does a pretty good job of simulating the texture and tastiness of a meat patty. Together with the relish, cheese, egg, and salad, it makes a very tasty burger. Considering the carbon footprint of growing beef, and the negative health implications of eating it, there are really no excuses for not making this very tasty vege burger.

For those staunch meat eaters, here is a video of a serious meat based burger restaurant in my city of residence.

Vege burger. Roast garlic, red pepper, and tomato relish

Servings: 6 people

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Ingredients

Patties (make 7 patties)

• 3/4 cup cooked quinoa
• 3/4 cup cooked black rice
• 3/4 cup bread crumbs
• 2 cups finely chopped button mushrooms
• 1/4 cup ground nuts (I used cashews as they are cheap in Vietnam)
• 3 eggs lightly whisked together
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp smoked kelp
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Relish

• 2 red peppers
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 2 mild large chilli peppers
• 1 head of garlic
• Pinch of salt
• 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

Other ingredients (per burger)

• 1 egg
• 1 slice of cheese
• 1 handful of salad
• 1 burger bun

Instructions

Patties

1. Saute the mushrooms until soft and reduced in volume
2. Combine all ingredients. The consistency should allow the mixture to be easily formed into patties. If not thick enough, add more breadcrumbs. If too thick, add another egg, or just a yolk.
3. Form into patties. These could be wrapped in plastic wrap and chilled until close to serving time.
4. To cook, brown patties on both sides in a little olive oil in a pan over a medium heat.
5. Keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.

Relish

1. Halve and trim the red peppers
2. Halve the tomatoes and cut out the stalk
3. Halve the chillies and remove the seeds, then chop into 1cm pieces
4. Cut the pointy end off the head of garlic, exposing the tops of each clove
5. Wrap the head of garlic in foil with a little oil and lunch of salt
6. Lay the red peppers and tomatoes, skin side down, in a baking tray.
7. Distribute the chopped chilli between the peppers
8. Drizzle with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of salt
9. Roast for 1.5 hours at 180 degC
10. Allows to cool, then remove the tomato skins
11. Squeeze the cloves out of the head of garlic
12. Blend all until smooth

Assembly

1. While the patties are still in the oven, put a cheese slice on top of each one.
2. Fry egg(s). More accurately, poach egg(in a little butter.
3. Halve the burger buns
4. Spread some relish on the base
5. Add the patty and cheese
6. Add the fried egg
7. Add some salad
8. Top with the top half of the bun.