Lentil–Walnut Burgers with Cheesy Sauce
Lentils and walnuts make hearty and delicious burgers, and the Cheesy Sauce is perfection. Here's a tip for you: Be sure your cooked lentils are not wet. You can blot them dry or place them in a skillet over medium heat, tossing to get out any moisture. Alternatively, you can spread them on a baking sheet and bake them for a few minutes at 350°F (175°C) to dry them out.
Servings 6
Daily Dozen 
Ingredients
BURGERS
- ⅓ cup chopped walnuts
- ⅓ cup chopped red onion
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
- 2 tablespoons warm water (mix with flaxseed)
- 1 tablespoon white miso paste
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon sodium-free salt substitute (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon ground pippali or black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Roasted Garlic (optional)
- 1½ cups cooked (not wet) brown lentils
- ½ cup rolled oats, or more as needed
FOR SERVING
- Whole-grain burger buns or tortillas (optional)
- Optional toppings: lettuce leaves, sliced tomato, sliced red onion
- Cheesy Sauce
Instructions
FOR THE BURGERS:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Place a sheet of parchment paper on a rimmed baking sheet. Set aside.
- In a food processor, combine the walnuts, red onion, flaxseed mixture, parsley, miso paste, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, sodium-free salt substitute (if using), and pippali. Pulse to combine, leaving some texture.
- Add the Roasted Garlic (if using), lentils, and oats. Pulse to mix together while leaving some texture. Pinch off a bit of the mixture and press it in your hand to make sure it holds together. If it's too wet, add more oats; if it's too dry, add some water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Taste to adjust the seasonings, it needed.
- Shape the lentil mixture tightly into six burgers about ½-inch (1-cm) thick. Arrange them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, turning once, about 8 minutes per side.
TO SERVE:
- When the burgers are ready to serve, arrange them on a plate or on buns or tortillas (if using) along with any toppings you choose. Top with the Cheesy Sauce.
Notes
VARIATION: For Southwest Black Bean Burgers: Substitute black beans for the lentils, pepitas for the walnuts, and fresh cilantro for the parsley.
Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of chili powder, ¼ cup (30g) of minced red bell pepper, and 2 tablespoons of chopped green onion, then proceed with the recipe.
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