Quinoa Burgers with Mexican Flare

I absolutely love quinoa burgers.  Mostly because my two year old likes them (wouldn't most moms say that?) and because my husband and I also think they are delicious.  They are versatile and  great vegetarian, allergy free option for my dinner rotation.  My two year old is not a huge fan of eating quinoa on its own, so this is a great way to serve it (with a little dip, of course - plain yogurt, organic ketchup, you name it!)  If you are not familiar with quinoa, it is an "ancient grain" that is an amino acid-rich (protein) seed that has a fluffy, creamy, slightly crunchy texture and a somewhat nutty flavor when cooked. (This definition is taken from this site). 

I took the original quinoa burger recipe that I use and spruced it up with some "Mexican flare."  It was even more delicious than the original!  I love Mexican food, as it is easy to bump up the nutrients with side dishes (avocado, greens, beans, etc.)

Quinoa Burgers (with a Mexican touch)

Adapted from original recipe here

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa (1 cup uncooked = 3 cups cooked - prepare 3 cups and freeze the other half for your next batch of burgers!  I recommend preparing it with vegetable or chicken broth for added flavor).

1/2 cup cooked organic black beans (or canned) + 2 Tbsp water

2 Tbsp egg replacer or ground chia seeds

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 heaping tsp cumin

1 heaping tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

4 Tbsp tapioca flour

1/2 tsp salt

Directions

Heat a non-stick frying pan on medium

Add all of the ingredients in a food processor and blend until it forms a ball of dough

If you have time, chill the mixture (you can leave it overnight or for the day)

Divide burger mix into 5 equal portions form patties (wet your hands to make this a little easier)

Fry in a little coconut oil on medium heat, 5 - 10 minutes each side, until browned and firm

(You can freeze these uncooked, thaw and cook as desired).

Serve on their own topped with a little salsa or as shown (brown rice tortilla, wraps, greens, and a little melted organic cheese).

Re-posted at:

Day2DayJoys: Healthy 2day Wednesdays
Allergy-Free Vintage Cookery Lunchbox Love
Fresh Bites Friday