Beet & Quinoa Burger

Do you eat burgers often?  I have to say I rarely ever eat a beef burger anymore, and if I do it’s typically a Kobe Beef Burger.  Aside from that I prefer making my Mountainous Grilled Chicken Burgers, Grilled Salmon Burgers, or Portobella Mushroom Burger. However yesterday I made these healthy and satisfying Beet & Quinoa Burgers that have now become one of my favorites. 

There’s nothing worse than feeling stuffed after eating a burger – the way I feel after eating beef burgers. Don’t misunderstand, I love hamburgers but I devour them, typically with fries or Cole slaw, then totally feel disgusting and angry for eating the entire sandwich. For that reason I prefer the lighter burgers.

Since I’m a huge fan of veggies and healthy grains, the Beet & Quinoa Burger not only hit the spot, but left my tummy happy and fulfilled.

Chock full of nutritional benefits makes indulging in this Beet & Quinoa Burger slathered with Avocado Dressing, topped with baked Sweet Potato Fries then sandwiched between Whole Foods Seduction Roll makes for one sexy burger!

  • Beets – help lower your blood pressure, boost your stamina, fight inflammation, have anti-cancer properties, are rich in nutrients and fiber, and valued for their support in detoxification and helping to purify your blood and liver.
  • Quinoa –  the only grain that is a complete protein, with all eight essential amino acids. Quinoa has a host of benefits making it an ideal grain to incorporate into your diet.
  • Avocados are a nice addition to any meal and easy to use.  They’re so delicious, healthy, and incredibly nutritious, containing more than 20 different vitamins and minerals, plus so much more!
  • Sweet Potatoes are high in antioxidants, beta-carotene, Vitamins A, C, and B6.  In light of their high sugar content, sweet potatoes help regulate blood sugar, even in type 2 diabetes patients. Studies have demonstrated that sweet potato extract has anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory potential, reducing inflammation in brain tissue and nerve tissue throughout the body, among a host of other health benefits.  The list is endless!

I’ve had my eye on this recipe from The Awesome Green now for several years, and with 4 beets in my refrigerator that I roasted the other day, I decided now was the ideal time to create these burgers.  I did make a few changes to the recipe to suit my taste, and next time will adjust those even more.

Ana of The Awesome Green baked her Beet & Quinoa Burgers in the oven, but I preferred to grill them on the stove top adding Coconut Oil to the grill pan rather than in the burgers, as her recipe calls for.  I also baked my sweet potatoes on a sheet pan lined with heavy-duty foil and sprayed with a non-stick spray, then sprinkled with Lawry’s Seasoned Salt. Ana sprinkled hers with cornmeal. Spraying the pan or oiling it is crucial, otherwise the starches from the potatoes will cause them to stick making it impossible for them to release. One final note – while I loved the Avocado Dressing, next time I would prefer to make Guacamole to get the full fresh flavor of the avocados.  In this Guacamole recipe I may substitute the mango for chopped tomatoes, making it the perfect spread/condiment for this sensational burger!

I’d also suggest roasting the beets a day ahead, and cooking the quinoa as well, then store both in the refrigerator until just before prepping the burgers.

Below is the recipe the way I prepared it, followed by the link to Ana’s recipe from The Awesome Green.

Even if you’re a fan of all-beef burgers I think you’ll soon become a fan of these Beet & Quinoa Burgers!  If you make them please let me know how you liked them……………………..

Beet & Quinoa Burger

This veggie burger is so incredibly tasty you'll want to have one everyday!

Ingredients:

  • For the Burgers
  • 6 whole beet root bulbs (approx. 2 cups chopped)
  • 1/2 cup dry quinoa , cooked according to package
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 shallot, finely diced
  • 1-2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 2 tbsp bread crumbs (I used plain Progresso)
  • 1 tbsp flax seeds
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp pink Himalayan salt
  • 1 tsp coconut oil, melted
  • For the Dressing
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 2 tbsp tahini (sesame paste)
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 garlic clove
  • ¼ tsp pink Himalayan salt
  • For the Fries
  • 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut in ¼-inch long slices, then ¼-wide inch strips
  • heavy-duty foil
  • Lawry's Seasoned Salt
  • non-stick spray
  • For assembling
  • 4 Whole Grain Buns - I used Seduction Rolls from Whole Foods
  • 4 Boston Lettuce Leaves

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven 400°F.
  2. Rub olive oil onto each beet root cube and wrap individually in heavy-duty foil and place on a sheet pan.  Roast for 45 minutes - 1 hour.
  3. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Once cooled place a plastic bag over each hand and peel the skin off. Cut beets into cubes and measure approximately 1 cup - this should be about 3 whole beets.
  4. Place the roasted beets in a food processor and pulse two or three times - you need some texture for the burgers, so make sure you don't mash them completely.
  5. Transfer the beets into a large bowl, add all burger ingredients (except coconut oil) and stir to combine. If the texture is too mushy add more bread crumbs or additional quinoa if you have any, until you obtain the desired consistency.
  6. With slightly wet hands or using a burger press, divide mixture and shape burgers.  Place on a lined baking sheet and refrigerate 30 minutes.
  7. On a grill pan place coconut oil and heat until melted.  Place burgers on hot grill pan over medium heat and cook 10-15 minutes per side. Turn down heat if they start to get too brown.
  8. Place sweet potato strips on a lined baking sheet sprayed with non-stick spray, and sprinkle lightly with Lawry's Seasoned Salt.
  9. Bake at 425°F for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
  10. While burgers and fries are cooking, prepare the avocado dressing. Place all ingredients in the food processor and process until creamy.
  11. Assemble the burgers immediately after removing from the oven.
  12. Cut bun in half placing Boston lettuce on the bottom of each bun. Set beet burger on top of lettuce, spread with avocado dressing, top with sweet potato fries, then sandwich with bun on top.
  13. Serve immediately.
Notes:
  • This recipe can be doubled for 6-8 burgers
  • To save time in the kitchen cook beets and quinoa a day ahead or earlier in the day.  Then finish prep and cooking just before serving.
  • Can be made Vegan using egg substitute
Adapted from: The Awesome Green

Hungry for more?  Savor these!

Roasted Beets & Butternut Squash Salad

Beet Chips

Healthy SuperFood Buddha Bowl

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14 comments

  1. Now that’s a BURGER! Beet and quinoa are not only delicious also super good for us. An excellent creation, Vicki.

  2. What a gorgeous photo! Your veggie burger sounds wonderful! I love beets, but Bill wouldn’t go near one 🙂 I need to check out your salmon burger—that would be perfect for Lent, too.

    • You might be surprised. If you don’t tell Bill what kind of burger it is he may actually love it. As for the Salmon burger it’s also a winner. I’ve served it many times at BBQ’s and everyone seems to enjoy them – plus it’s light. Glad you liked my photo, as you know that’s a work in progress!

  3. What a great looking burger! Very creative, and tastes wonderful, I’ll bet. I can’t eat nearly as much as I used to. These days Mrs KR and I often split a burger — with the sides and all, that’s just enough. Wouldn’t want to split this beauty, though — all for me! 🙂

  4. PINNED!  As a vegetarian (who LOVES beets) this is basically everything I look for in a dinner :).  And I love the idea of an avocado + tahini dressing–I have a feeling I could eat it with a spoon.

    • The entire burger with dressing is delicious! Although I think next time I’ll simply top it with guacamole for an even fresher tasting topping.

      I’m glad you liked it and would love to hear your thoughts if you take the time to make it.

  5. Such a delicious and healthy dinner idea Vicki. I would love this! 

    • I know you’d love it Chris, it’s so tasty and light. I had a hard time restraining from eating whatever we had left over. So I had one the next day rather than being a hog all at once.

  6. I must admit that I love meat…but looking at your beet and quinoa burger, I am thinking…who needs meat? This burger looks fabulous and sounds really tasty Vicki…thanks for the inspiration!
    I hope you enjoy your week 🙂

    • Juliana, I love meat as well but just can’t eat it that often. This Beet & Quinoa salad though will fool the meat lover. Of course they’ll know it’s not meat but whatever they imagine it to be they will love it. It’s that good. I hope you try it. Enjoy your week as well.

  7. I know this will make me sound strange but for me, a burger is only there to hold up the toppings. I love beets and quinoa and what a great way to hold up the toppings. I can never eat more than half a burger but I bet I could all of this one.

    • You could definitely eat the whole burger. I had a hard time stopping at just one but made myself and then had one the next day. These are so tasty it’s hard to believe it’s just beets and quinoa.

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