Vegetable Burgers

These tender vegetable patties are meant to be soft. Prepare through step two the day before since the mixture is easier to work with once its has been refrigerated overnight and the flavors have had time to marry. Amchur (or amchoor) powder is a tart green mango-based seasoning. Omit if you can't find it. Serve with Fiery Tomato Chutney.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 stuffed pita half)

Ingredients

• 1  cup  canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
• 1  cup  chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2  cup  coarsely chopped carrot
• 1  teaspoon  Garam Masala
• 1  teaspoon  amchur powder
• 1 1/4  teaspoons  kosher salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground red pepper
• 1  jalapeño, seeded and quartered
• 2  pounds  peeled red potatoes, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1/4  cup  coarsely chopped red onion
• 1  cup  dry breadcrumbs
• 2  tablespoons  extravirgin olive oil
• 2 2/3  cups  spinach
• 4  (6-inch) whole-grain pitas, cut in half
• 8  red onion slices

Preparation

1. Combine first 9 ingredients in the bowl of a food processor; process until finely chopped.

2. Place potatoes in a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil; cook 13 minutes. Add onion, and cook for 2 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain; cool 10 minutes. Place potato mixture in a large bowl; mash with a potato masher or fork. Stir in chickpea mixture and breadcrumbs; cover and chill 8 hours or overnight.

3. Divide potato mixture into 8 equal portions, shaping each portion into a 1/2-inch-thick patty (about 2/3 cup mixture). Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 patties to pan; cook 5 minutes on each side or until browned and heated through. Repeat procedure with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 4 patties. Place 1/3 cup spinach and 1 patty in each pita half. Top each serving with 1 onion slice.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

292 (18% from fat)

Fat:

5.7g (sat 0.8g,mono 2.9g,poly 1.3g)

Protein:

9.7g

Carbohydrate:

51.8g

Fiber:

7.1g

Cholesterol:

0.0mg

Iron:

3.1mg

Sodium:

675mg

Calcium:

58mg