Sweet Potato-Pecan Burgers with Caramelized Onions

Choose breads labeled 100 percent whole wheat or whole grain to make sure you're getting their benefits. Nuts add healthful unsaturated fats and filling protein to this tasty vegetarian sandwich.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 burger)

Ingredients

• Onions:
• 1  teaspoon  canola oil
• 3  cups  sliced onion
• 2  tablespoons  balsamic vinegar
• 1  teaspoon  sugar
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 
  Burgers:
• 2 1/2  cups  (1/2-inch) cubed peeled sweet potato
• Cooking spray
• 2 1/2  cups  chopped onion
• 3  garlic cloves
• 1  cup  regular oats
• 1 1/2  teaspoons  ground cumin
• 3/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  pepper
• 1/2  cup  chopped pecans, toasted
• 1  tablespoon  canola oil, divided
• 6  Boston lettuce leaves
• 6  (1 1/2-ounce) 100% whole wheat or whole-grain buns
• 6  chili sauce

Preparation

1. To prepare onions, heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced onion to pan; sauté 12 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Stir in vinegar, sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt; cook 30 seconds or until vinegar is absorbed. Remove onion mixture from pan; keep warm. Wipe pan dry with a paper towel.

2. To prepare burgers, place potato in a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until tender; drain.

3. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chopped onion and garlic to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until tender.

4. Place potato, chopped onion mixture, oats, cumin, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a food processor; process until smooth. Place potato mixture in a large bowl; stir in nuts. Divide potato mixture into 6 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty.

5. Wipe pan dry with a paper towel. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add 3 patties to pan; cook 4 minutes or until browned. Carefully turn patties over; cook 3 minutes or until browned. Remove from pan; keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil and 3 patties. Place lettuce leaves and patties on bottom halves of buns; top each patty with 1 tablespoon chili sauce, about 3 tablespoons onion, and top halves of buns.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

376 (0.0% from fat)

Fat:

12.3g (sat 0.9g,mono 5.8g,poly 3.2g)

Protein:

11.3g

Carbohydrate:

59g

Fiber:

7.9g

Cholesterol:

0.0mg

Iron:

3.4mg

Sodium:

785mg

Calcium:

89mg