Chickpea Burgers

Chickpea Burgers


4 servings

Ingredients:

4 tsp. sesame seeds
1 Tbsp. ground coriander
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. vegetable oil, preferably canola oil
1/2 cup chopped scallions (4 scallions)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 cup cooked brown rice
2/3 cup wheat germ
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
4 1/2-inch-thick slices tomato
4 6-inch pita breads
nonfat plain yogurt for garnish
spinach leaves for garnish

Instructions

Heat a small skillet over low heat. Add sesame seeds and toast, stirring almost constantly, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add coriander and cumin; cook, stirring until fragrant, 10 to 20 seconds longer. Turn out onto a plate and let cool. Grind with a mortar and pestle or in a spice mill and set aside. Add oil to the skillet and heat over medium heat. Add scallions and garlic; sauti until softened, about 2 minutes. Set aside.

Prepare a grill or preheat the broiler. In a medium-sized bowl, mash chickpeas coarsely with a potato masher. Stir in rice, 1/3 cup wheat germ, lemon juice, salt, pepper, the reserved sesame seed-spice mixture and the scallion-garlic mixture; mix well. Shape the mixture into four 3/4-inch-thick patties. In a shallow dish, dredge the patties in the remaining 1/3 cup wheat germ, pressing the wheat germ firmly onto the patties.

Grill or broil the patties and tomato slices on a lightly oiled rack until browned and heated through, about 3 minutes per side. Tuck the patties into pitas; garnish with yogurt and spinach.

Nutritional Information:

Per serving:
380 calories
9 g total fat (1 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
63 g carbohydrate
16 g protein
12 g fiber
527 mg sodium