Protein power house for organizing day!

Behold the mighty chickpea!  Most of us think of it smashed into hummus but it also makes great burgers.  Here's a recipe from Forks Over Knives a great web site promoting cruelty free healthy living. Be sure and click on the link Plant Powered 15 to meet the master chef behind this wonderful concoction.  She's promoting this recipe for kids but I say feed your brain on organizing day and banish 'decision fatigue!'

Sneaky Chickpea Burgers

From Plant-Powered 15
Makes 7-8 Patties

Ingredients:

• 1 cup carrot, cut in discs
• ½ cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1 medium-large clove garlic
• 2 cans (14-ounces each) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• ½ cup nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste (can substitute natural ketchup)
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
• freshly ground black pepper (optional)
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme or rosemary leaves
• 1 cup rolled oats

Instructions:

In a food processor, first add carrots, bell pepper, and garlic, pulse until finely chopped.  Add remaining ingredients except rolled oats and process through. Stop processor a few times and scrape down, and continue to process until smooth. Then add rolled oats and pulse through. Remove bowl and place in fridge to chill mixture, for about a ½ hour. When ready to shape patties, take out scoops of mixture and form burgers in your hands. To cook, place patties on a non-stick skillet over medium/medium-high heat. Let cook on one side for 7-8 minutes, or until golden brown. Then flip, and let cook for another 5-7 minutes on the other side. Alternatively, these patties can be baked at 400°F for about 20 minutes, flipping half way through, however I prefer the sear and texture that pan-cooking offers. Serve on buns, or in tortillas or pitas with fixings of choice!

Kiddo Note: Although most children do not like dijon mustard, garlic, or some fresh herbs, they will likely not notice these ingredients at all! Our daughters devour these burgers without ever noticing the seasonings (or the veggies)!