Lunch: Stellar Quinoa Burger

Recipe by Cafe Pasqual's, Santa Fe, NM With sweet potato as a binder, quinoa for protein, and meaty mushrooms for depth, this veggie burger beats anything in the frozen foods aisle.

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health benefits of Stellar Quinoa Burger

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

1 small sweet potato
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
1 portobello mushroom
1/2 small zucchini
1 small shallot, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup cooked quinoa (from about 1/2 cup uncooked)
3/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
4 English muffins, split, toasted
Guacamole, tomato chutney, and sprouts (for serving; optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 °F. Prick sweet potato all over with a fork; rub with 1 Tbsp. oil, then season with salt and pepper. Roast directly on oven rack until tender, 30 –45 minutes. Let cool. Remove and discard skin; mash flesh with a fork. Set aside.
Remove stem from mushroom; discard. Pulse cap in a food processor until finely chopped. Coarsely grate zucchini on the large holes of a box grater; gather up in a kitchen towel and squeeze out excess liquid.
Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a medium skillet over low. Cook shallot and red pepper flakes, stirring often, until shallot is soft, about 2 minutes. Add mushroom and zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to release their liquid but have not taken on any color, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl; mix in quinoa and season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
Add breadcrumbs, lemon juice, and about 1/4 cup reserved mashed sweet potato to quinoa mixture and mix well. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. If mixture is too loose, add more sweet potato to bind.
Divide mixture into 4 portions and form into patties, pressing firmly together with your hands. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium skillet over medium and cook 2 patties until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side; season with salt and pepper. Repeat with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil and 2 patties.
Build burgers with patties, toasted English muffins, guacamole, tomato chutney, and sprouts.