nutritional information

Per Burger:

  • Calories: 262
  • Protein: 11 g
  • Total Fat: 10.5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 31 g
  • Cholesterol: 55 mg
  • Sodium: 656 mg
  • Fiber: 7 g
  • Sugar: 5 g

Greek-Style Lentil Burgers

Greek-Style Lentil Burgers

Serves 8

Chef Nicole Palitti tucks these burgers inside pitas with feta and tomatoes.
Burgers
  • ½ cup dried lentils
  • 2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for brushing patties
  • 1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
  • ½ red bell pepper, diced (½ cup)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)
  • 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup loosely packed parsley leaves
  • ½ cup pitted kalamata olives
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. ground coriander
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • ¾ cup grated carrots
  • ½ tsp. baking powder
Tzatziki Sauce
  • 2 cups plain low-fat yogurt
  • 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, shredded, and drained
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
  • 1 tsp. lemon zest
  • 1 tsp. chopped fresh mint
  • 1 tsp. chopped fresh parsley

1. To make Burgers: Cook lentils according to package directions. Drain.

2. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper, and sauté 7 minutes. Stir in garlic.

3. Blend chickpeas, parsley, olives, eggs, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper in food processor 2 minutes, or until smooth. Stir chickpea mixture, breadcrumbs, carrots, and baking powder into lentils. Shape into 8 patties. Layer patties between plastic wrap, and freeze.

4. To make Tzatziki Sauce: Combine all ingredients in small bowl.

5. Preheat grill to high. Brush frozen patties with oil, and cook 6 minutes on each side. Serve Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce.

July/August 2007 p.70

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comments

Made this without eggs and instead drizzled a little olive oil into the food processor. It did make them into patties, but once I put them in the pita, they smushed in. They were delicious though!

Martha B - 2012-05-10 16:38:20

This was actually pretty good, but it did require a huge bowl to mix everything in. I also didn't have bread crumbs, so ended up using 1 cup of brown rice and added 2 T of dry hummus mix, and forgot the baking powder, and added a little goat cheese. It still worked fine, and didn't fall apart in the oven.

Anonymous - 2011-06-05 21:38:59

Any suggestions on ingredients to substitute for the chickpeas and breadcrumbs? Make it gluten free and people on Ayurveda diets who aren't supposed to have legumes/chick peas.

Audrey - 2011-08-10 08:29:20