Quinoa, Sweet Potato, Walnut Veggie Burgers

Preparation Time: 20 minutes 

Cooking Time: 5 minutes 

Level of Difficulty: Easy 

Kashrut Type: Parve 

Textural balance and difference are important to every recipe, but especially with veggie burgers. Have you ever had one that’s just plain mushy? If so, it was probably your last until now. This recipe, with sweet potatoes as a lightly sweet binder and base, meaty mushrooms, toothsome walnuts, and al dente quinoa, will change the way you think about veggie burgers. 

INGREDIENTS 

(Yields 4 6-oz patties) 

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 14 ounces or 300 grams) 

2 teaspoons salt 

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more as needed 

8 ounces (225 grams) cremini or shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded, tops cleaned and coarsely chopped 

½ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped 

2 large shallots, finely chopped 

2 teaspoons soy sauce, plus more to taste 

2 garlic cloves, minced 

2 teaspoons sherry vinegar, plus more to taste 

1 cup cooked quinoa 

Freshly ground black pepper to taste 

¼ cup cilantro and flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped 

PREPARATION 

1. Place the sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan. Cover with cold water. 

2. Add the salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, weigh out 10 ounces (about 1 cup) and reserve. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. 

3. Add the mushrooms, walnuts, shallots, and soy sauce and cook, stirring, until the mushrooms are golden brown and the shallots are softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and sherry vinegar and cook 1 minute more. Stir in the quinoa. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning with soy sauce, vinegar, and pepper. Place the cooked sweet potatoes in a large bowl and mash them with a fork. Stir in the mushroom mixture, cilantro, and parsley. 

4. Divide the mixture into 4 portions and shape them into 5-inch (12.5 cm.) patties. 

5. Wipe out the skillet and coat it lightly with oil. Heat the skillet over medium-high heat until the oil is shimmering. 

6. Cook the patties until deep golden brown on both sides, 5 to 7 minutes per side. Serve with any of the suggested accompaniments. 

Serving suggestions: Barbecue sauce, crisp lettuce, Dijon mustard, hamburger buns, mayonnaise, pickled pink onions, roasted tomatoes, teriyaki sauce.