Beet and Bulgar Burgers

Our recently improvised "recipe" drew inspiration from the delectable Beet and Brown Rice Burger at Woodstock's Shindig restaurant. This version requires only one large beet, eliminating the need to buy an entire bunch if the earthy root veggie doesn't appear often on your menus. That would be us we're talking about.

The peeled and sliced beet is pulverized to perfection in a food processor or high-speed blender.

Cooked Bulgar wheat is then added to the mix and processed once more. You'll end up with a texture and appearance almost alarmingly akin to ground meat. We swear that's not beef or lamb in the pic above!!

Spices are essential. No one enjoys an under-seasoned veggie burger.

Again, it's not ground meat, people. Promise!

Always fry veggie burgers over a consistent medium heat.

Beet and Bulgar Burgers topped with vegan Dill and Caper Mayonnaise. 

Excerpt directly from email sent to our dear friend Susan, whose new blog Brewster Herbal is essential online reading, just FYI. 

Oh yes.

I'm going to write up a proper recipe for my blog this week (hopefully) but basically what I did:

1. Peel one large beet or two smaller ones. Cut into chunks and throw in a food processor or blender.

2. Process until the beet is broken into crumb-like pieces. Alternately you could grate the beet but the texture isn't as good.

3. Add to the food processor or blender about 1 1/2 cups (a little less is ok) cooked and cooled bulgar wheat. Process again until everything is combined and pulverized. It will look A LOT like ground meat in color and texture.

4. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add 1/2 cup dried bread crumbs, at least 1/2 t. salt, about 2 T. peanut butter or tahini, black pepper, some thyme leaves, 2 large pinches of fennel seeds, 1 t. mustard powder and some garlic powder.

5. With damp hands mix everything together really really well and form into a large ball. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

6. When you're ready to eat, shape into patties and pan-fry in olive or coconut oil over medium heat. You have to flip them a few times and it takes about 10 minutes total to cook all the way through.

Enjoy and let me know how they turn out!! xoxo, D.