Nutrition bombs!

   We are really digging this new healthy lifestyle with no meat and no processed food (well, with less processed food). Believe it or not, but after two weeks of doing that, we really feel better and lighter. We eat mostly veggies, lots of grains and seeds, try to avoid sugars, and bad fat. Today, I put few of the healthiest ingredients together to make some nutrition-bomb-style burgers! Quinoa, oats, flax and chia seeds... you get the point! It doesn't get any healthier than that! If you are waiting for me to tell you that they taste exactly the same as real beef burgers and you won't even notice the difference, don't wait. They definitely taste like veggie burgers, but they are still delicious and satisfying. My recipe makes 12 gigantic burgers, so if you don't like to repeat your meals, cut the ingredients in half. 

Ingredients:

Burgers:
*  1 cup dry red quinoa
*  2 cups old fashion oats
*  2 15oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
*  1/4 cup chia seeds
*  1/4 cup flax seeds
*  1/2 red onion, finely chopped
*  1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
*  1 tbsp ground cumin
*  1 tsp garlic powder
*  1 tbsp burger seasoning
*  salt and pepper

*  thin buns (I used whole grain and flax seeds)

Aioli:
*  1 15oz can of fire roasted tomatoes
*  1 cup Greek yogurt
*  salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Cover quinoa with 3-4 cups of water, bring to boil and cook on medium heat for about 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Mix chia seeds with 1/2 cup of warm water and let it stand for 10 minutes. It will become gel-like.
3. In a food processor grind the flax seeds into a meal, mix with 1/2 cup warm water and let it stand for 5-10 minutes. It will act as a binder, so no need for eggs.
4. Put oats in a food processor and puls couple of times to break down the oats without turning them into flour.
5. Place drained black beans in a deep bowl and smash with potato masher.
6. Add all other remaining ingredients to the beans (except buns!), season with salt and pepper (if needed), and get your hands dirty... mixing everything together.
7. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (it will help to form patties).
8. Form large patties and place them onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake at 375F for 12 minutes on each side.
9. To make aioli sauce, drain fire roasted tomatoes (to get rid of all the liquid), mix with Greek yogurt, salt and pepper and blend in a food processor until smooth.
10. Build your burger as you like it. I like mine simple with fresh baby arugula and fire roasted tomato aioli.

   I told you they were big! If you like a little tang in your food, addition of pickled banana peppers is just great here. I think it's the first time when eating a "burger" makes me feel good about my diet!

Enjoy,
Magda