1/2cupquinoa (dry)(white variety, can sub with equal amount millet)
1/2 cup adjuki beans (dry)(can sub with equal about dry red kidney beans or 1 cup canned)
2-1/4cupswater
5tspavocado oil(divided 1tsp+4 tsp)
1mediumonion(~ 1 cup, roughly chopped)
3cloves garlic(roughly minced)
8ozsweet potato (~1 medium, baked and peeled)
1 jalapeño(seeded and roughly chopped, or to taste)
1tspchipotle chili pepper powder(or to taste, can sub with red chili powder)
1tsphomemade roasted ground cumin(or sub with store-bought cumin powder)
1tbspapple cider vinegar(or sub with white vinegar)
1tbspflax meal*( can sub with equal amount ground chia seeds)
1-1/4tspsalt
2tbsp lime juice(~1/2 lime)
1/2tsp lime zest(~1/2 lime, use the same lime before juicing, optional)
Instructions
Cook the Quinoa**
Rinse quinoa under running water (or pre-soak for at least 1 hour) and add with 1 cup of water to a heavy-bottom pan with 1/8 tsp salt. Cook over medium heat. (About 15 minutes).
Cook the Adjuki Beans
Soak adjuki beans overnight and rinse before adding to a pan with water and 1/8 tsp salt. Cook till soft, but still hold their shape (about 35 minutes.)
Make the burgers
Cook the chopped onions and garlic over medium heat till the onion is translucent and cooked through (do this step while quinoa and beans are cooking). This step is optional. You can skip this step and add raw onion and garlic to the burger mix when processing.
Add cooked quinoa, adjuki beans, cooked onions with rest of the ingredients to a food processor and process till well mixed.
Divide the dough into 8 equal parts and press into burger shape.
To cook, heat (not smoke)1/2 tsp of oil on an iron skillet and add the burger patty. Cook about 2-3 minutes each side over medium heat. Serve with your favorite burger bun or over a bed of salad. ENJOY!
Notes
*ground flax seeds, preferably freshly ground. **you can get the quinoa recipe HERE. Make it heart-healthy
Reduce salt to 1 tsp. It still tastes pretty good.
I have not tried it yet, but try baking burger patties at 350°F for about 25 minutes to bake instead of cooking with oil.